Nigeria’s Flamingos began their campaign at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup with a 2-1 defeat to Poland in their opening Group B fixture at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat on Saturday.
Oluebube Umejiaku scored Nigeria’s only goal late in the second half, but her effort proved insufficient as earlier goals from Wiktoria Skrzypczak and Natalia Skrok secured all three points for the European side.
After a closely contested opening half hour, Poland broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute when they were awarded a penalty. Skrzypczak stepped up and calmly converted from the spot, sending the ball into the bottom-right corner beyond goalkeeper Jane Ijirigho to give her side the lead.
The Flamingos pushed for an equaliser but struggled to find a breakthrough, and their task became more difficult in the 65th minute when Skrok doubled Poland’s advantage.
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Nigeria head coach Akeem Busari responded with a double substitution three minutes later, introducing Umejiaku and Awawu Bashiru for Chidera Chidi and Mary Dunstan in an attempt to revive his side’s attacking threat.
Busari made further changes in the 78th minute, bringing on Kanyinsola Yusuf and Precious Oscar for Elizabeth Adesuyi and Queen Joseph.
The substitutions paid off as Umejiaku found the net to reduce the deficit to 2-1, setting up a tense finish and giving Nigeria renewed hope of salvaging a point.
The Flamingos thought they had a penalty in the 86th minute, but after a VAR review, the decision went Poland’s way. Nigeria continued to search for a late equaliser, but Poland held firm to preserve their advantage and begin their campaign with a victory.
The Flamingos will now turn their attention to Tuesday’s Group B encounter against Puerto Rico, where they will be looking to bounce back and revive their hopes of progressing to the knockout stage.
Poland, meanwhile, will face North Korea on the same day as they seek to build on their opening-day success.
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