2025 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup Kicks Off in Morocco as Flamingos Face Canada in Opening Game
The 2025 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup has officially kicked off in Morocco, marking the first time the tournament is being hosted on African soil. Among the standout fixtures of the opening round, Nigeria’s Flamingos will take on Canada on Sunday evening at the Mohammed VI Football Academy in Salé.
This will be Nigeria’s eighth appearance at the competition. The West Africans have previously reached the semifinals twice and claimed a historic third-place finish in 2022, their best result so far.
Led by Coach Bankole Olowookere, the Flamingos head into the tournament with confidence after an impressive preparation campaign. The team went unbeaten in several domestic friendlies and recorded mixed results abroad — a thrilling 3–2 win over Paraguay and a narrow 4–3 loss to New Zealand. Their dynamic style of play, marked by high pressing and swift attacking moves, has earned praise from fans and analysts alike.
Nigeria will be eager to make a strong start, especially after fellow African side Morocco suffered a 3–0 loss to Brazil in the opening match. A good result against Canada could set the tone for their Group D campaign, which also includes France and Samoa.
Canada, making their eighth appearance as well, return to the competition after missing the 2022 edition. Known for their tactical discipline and physical strength, the Canadians finished fourth in 2018 — their best-ever result. They head into this year’s tournament in fine form after an impressive showing at a four-nation invitational in Mexico, where they beat Costa Rica 2–0 and held both the USA and Mexico to draws.
How They Qualified
Nigeria earned qualification as one of five African representatives, alongside Morocco, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, and Zambia.
- Second Round: Beat South Africa 5–1 on aggregate (3–0 home, 2–1 away).
- Third Round: Defeated Algeria 4–0 in Ikenne-Remo before a goalless draw in Algiers.
The Flamingos conceded just one goal throughout the qualifiers, highlighting their defensive solidity and attacking sharpness.
Canada booked their spot through the CONCACAF U17 Championship, topping their group after victories over Panama, Puerto Rico, and Nicaragua. They scored ten goals and conceded only two during the campaign.
Head-to-Head
This will be only the second meeting between Nigeria and Canada at the U17 Women’s World Cup. Their first encounter came in 2012 and ended 1–1, with Chinwendu Ihezuo scoring Nigeria’s equaliser.
Against CONCACAF opposition, Nigeria have recorded three wins, two draws, and one defeat, while Canada remain unbeaten in five matches against African teams.
Team News
Nigeria will be without star forward Chidi Harmony, who misses the tournament through injury. In her absence, captain Shakirat Moshood, who scored four goals at last year’s U20 World Cup in the Dominican Republic, will lead the attack.
Other key players include goalkeeper Elizabeth Boniface, defenders Azeezat Oduntan and Christiana Sunday, midfielders Muinat Rotimi and Zainab Raji, and forwards Chisom Nwachukwu and Mariam Yahaya.
Canada’s squad features several promising youngsters from the country’s domestic league, including goalkeeper Olivia Busby (Halifax Tides FC) and forward Melisa Kekic (AFC Toronto). Four players are receiving their first national team call-ups, while two hold dual citizenship with the United States.
Match Details
- Competition: 2025 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup (Group D)
- Fixture: Nigeria vs Canada
- Date: Sunday, 19 October 2025
- Venue: Mohammed VI Football Academy, Salé, Morocco
- Kick-off: 5:00 PM (Nigerian Time)
Preview
Nigeria’s attacking flair and technical precision make them slight favourites, but Canada’s organisation and physical approach will provide a tough challenge. The Flamingos are expected to dominate possession and exploit spaces with their quick transitions, while Canada may rely on compact defending and fast counterattacks.
A win for Nigeria would give them a crucial early boost as they begin their quest for a first-ever World Cup title.
