Flamingos beat Brazil 3-1 to reach first U-17 Women’s World Cup final

Nigeria’s under-17 women’s team, the Flamingos, beat Brazil 3-1 in Rabat, Morocco, on Wednesday to reach the final of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup for the first time.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said Queen Joseph scored after the goalless first half, followed by Awawu Bashiru in the 71st and 80th minutes. Greise Kelly scored for Brazil in the 89th minute.

Nigeria’s best finish at the tournament until now was bronze in 2022. No African team had reached the final before, Daily Trust reported.

Coach Hakeem Busari’s side lost their opening group match 2-1 to Poland, the NFF said before the semi-final. They then beat Puerto Rico 2-0, defending champions North Korea 3-1 and Mexico 2-1, before they beat Venezuela 1-0 in the quarter-final.

Nigeria will play Japan, who beat North Korea on penalties in the other semi-final, in the final on 7 November.

Sources: NFF match report; NFF preview; Punch; Daily Trust; Daily Post