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It was not the best of starts for Nigeria’s Flamingos, following their 2-1 loss to Poland in Group B of the 2026 FIFA U-17 women’s World Cup in Morocco on Saturday, completesports.com reports.
The Polish raced to a 2-0 lead after scoring a goal in each half before substitute Oluebube Umejiaku scored for the Flamingos.
The Flamingos will hope to bounce back in their second game against debutant Puerto Rico on Tuesday, October 20.
Puerto Rico suffered a humiliating 6-0 defeat to reigning champions North Korea earlier on Saturday.
Natalia Skrok had the first attempt on goal in the 14th minute but could not hit the target.
Four minutes later Oluwakemi Adegbuyi went close for the Flamingos but failed to open the scoring.
In the 26th minute it was the turn of Queen Joseph to go close which did not result into a goal.
Also Read: 2026 U-17 WWC: North Korea Send Warning To Flamingos After 6-0 Hammering Of Puerto Rico
But on 33 minutes Poland took the lead through Wiktoria Skrzypczak from the penalty spot following a foul by Ohunene Sunday after consultation with VAR.
With less than five minutes left in the first half the trio of Mary Dunstan, Queen Joseph and Elizabeth Adesuyi went close but could not convert their opportunities.
With just three minutes into the second half Poland’s Zofia Burzan had a chance to double her team’s which did not result in a goal.
Poland continued to push fora second goal and were rewarded on 65 minutes thanks to Natalia Skrok.
Wiktoria Skrzypczak went close to extending the lead in the 69th minute but could not find the back of the net.
In the 79th minute the Flamingos pulled a goal back through substitute Umejiaku.
With four minutes left there was a VAR check for a possible penalty for the Flamingos but it was not given.
MATCH STATS
Poland 2 – 1 Nigeria
SCORERS
POLAND (Wiktoria Skrzypczak 33 min (pen), Natalia Skrok, 65 min)
NIGERIA (Oluebube Umejiaku, 79 min)
POLAND STARTING LINEUP
21. Hanna Buchta
3. Lena Saja
5. Zofia Switala
8. Natalia Skrok
9. Zofia Cendrowska
10. Wiktoria Skrzypczak
11. Nicola Galuszka
13. Helena Zarzycka
14. Zofia Burzan
16. Olga Polewska
19. Blanka Zajac
SUBSTITUTIONS
Michalina Wisniewska
(Olga Polewska, 46 min)
Maja Leskiewicz
(Zofia Cendrowska, 61 min)
Oliwia GREWLING Grewling
(Wiktoria Skrzypczak, 73 min)
Laura Urbanczyk (Natalia Skrok, 90+3)
Julia Kania (Blanka Zajac, 90+3)
HEAD COACH: Paulina Kawalec
NIGERIA LINEUP
1 Jane Ijirigho
2 Elizabeth Adesuyi
3 Azeezat Oduntan
5 Ohunene Sunday
7 Queen Joseph
8 Mary Dunstan
9 Chidi Harmony (C)
10 Favour Nkwocha
12 Tosin Rafiu
13 Esther Stephen
14 Oluwakemi Adegbuyi
SUBSTITUTIONS
Oluebube Umejiaku(Chidera Chidi, 68 min)
Awawu Bashiru (Mary Dunstan, 68 min)
Kanyinsola Yusuf (Elizabeth Adesuyi, 78 min)
Precious Oscar (Queen Joseph, 78 min)
HEAD COACH: Akeem Busari
By James Agberebi
