Flamingos face Brazil in U-17 World Cup semi-final tonight
- Nigeria's Flamingos face Brazil in the Under-17 Women's World Cup semi-final in Morocco on Wednesday.
- A win would send Nigeria to the final for the first time in the tournament's history.
- Brazil are unbeaten in Morocco, while Nigeria lost their opening game to Poland before recovering.
Nigeria's Flamingos will try to reach the final of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup for the first time when they face Brazil in Rabat, Morocco, on Wednesday night. Kick-off at the Mohammed VI Football Complex, Pitch 3, is 7pm Nigerian time.
It is only the second time Nigeria have made the semi-finals. The first was in 2022 in India, when the team went on to win bronze.
Coach Akeem Busari's side got here the hard way. They lost their opening match 2-1 to Poland, then beat Puerto Rico 2-0, defending champions North Korea 3-1 and Mexico 2-1 to reach the quarter-finals.
Against Venezuela in the last eight, captain Azeezat Oduntan scored an 89th-minute penalty after Oluebube Umejiaku was fouled in the box. That 1-0 win sent Nigeria through.
Brazil's warning
Brazil have not lost a match in Morocco. They came from behind to beat China 2-1 in the quarter-finals, and needed an 8-7 penalty shootout to get past Poland in the round of 16 after a 3-3 draw.
Nine different Brazilian players have scored at the tournament. Greise Kelly leads their scoring with three goals, and one report credits her with five assists as well.
Brazil coach Rilany Silva expects a hard night. "Nigeria are a very physical team," she told FIFA, adding that by the 90th minute the Flamingos will probably still be running as if it were the fifth minute.
Defender Andreyna said the game will come down to discipline. "The team that makes the fewest mistakes and executes their game plan the best will win this one," she told FIFA.
Busari has asked his players to keep their focus. "We want to give our best in the next match and show everyone what we can do," he said after the Venezuela win.
Nigeria will again look to goalkeeper Jane Ijirigho, whose saves in the knockout rounds have kept the team in the competition.
What happens next
The winner goes into the final, where they will meet the team that comes through the other semi-final. For the Flamingos, victory would be a first-ever appearance in the championship match.
