Nigeria’s U17 women’s team, the Flamingos, suffered back-to-back defeats following a 1–0 loss to France in their second match at the 2025 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup on Wednesday, www.aclsports.com reports.
Coach Bankole Olowookere made one change to the line-up that lost 4–1 to Canada, bringing in Fatimoh Shuaib for Nofisat Tijani.
The game was tightly contested, with both teams creating chances. Nigeria came close in the first half as Shakirat Moshood and Chisom Nwachukwu forced saves from French goalkeeper Lauryne Chevray, but the Flamingos couldn’t convert their pressure into goals.
France eventually broke the deadlock when Maïssa Fathallah scored after being set up by Luna Laboucarie. Despite late attempts from Oduntan, Moshood, and Nwachukwu, Nigeria were unable to find an equaliser.
Olowookere made several substitutions in the second half, bringing on Mariam Yahaya for Abubakar, Zainab Raji for Olanrewaju, and Nguemo Terlumun for Raji, but France held firm to claim the win.
The result leaves the Flamingos still searching for their first points in Group D, the first time in the competition’s history that Nigeria have failed to earn a point after two group games. In 2016, they managed one point from their opening two fixtures and finished the group stage with that single point.
Currently third, Nigeria will now focus on their final group game against Samoa, desperate for a win and hoping that results elsewhere go in their favour.
A victory could see them remain third in the group and stand a chance of progressing to the Round of 16 as one of the best third-placed teams.
