Flamingos Reach U-17 World Cup Semi-Final After Oduntan’s Late Penalty

Nigeria’s Flamingos have secured a place in the semi-final of the 2026 FIFA Women’s U-17 World Cup in Morocco, with Azeezat Oduntan delivering the decisive moment in a tense 1-0 victory over Venezuela.

The Nigerian side, led by Akeem Busari, had to overcome a determined Venezuelan team that kept their attacking threats under control for much of Sunday’s quarter-final encounter in Sale. Venezuela had already announced their strength by eliminating Germany in the second round, making the contest a difficult test for the Flamingos.

For a team known for its free-scoring approach, the encounter demanded patience, discipline and the ability to seize a moment when it finally arrived.

That opportunity came in the 89th minute. Oluebube Umejiaku was brought down inside Venezuela’s penalty area by Migleydys Bolsegui, prompting the referee to award Nigeria a spot-kick.

Captain Odunayo stepped forward and converted with composure, sending the Venezuelan goalkeeper in the wrong direction. The late strike proved enough to secure Nigeria’s passage into the final four and keep the country’s hopes of another podium finish alive.

The achievement marks only the second time the Flamingos have reached the semi-final stage of the competition. Their previous appearance came in 2022, when Nigeria went on to claim the bronze medal.

The latest qualification offers another opportunity for the young Nigerian side to demonstrate its growing competitiveness on the global stage, with the team now just two matches away from the title.

Standing between Nigeria and a place in the final is Brazil, who also needed a late goal to overcome China and advance. The two sides will meet in Wednesday’s semi-final, with the winner earning a place in next Saturday’s final against either Japan or North Korea.

The Flamingos have already shown that they can navigate difficult encounters. Their next challenge will be to turn that resilience into another memorable performance as Nigeria continues its pursuit of global honours in women’s youth football.