By Harry Awurumibe, Live in Morocco
Nigeria’s U-17 women’s football team on Saturday night fell 1-2 to a resilient and tactically organised team of Poland in the opening Group B match of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup played at Pitch 4 of Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat, Morocco.
But it was a game coach Busari Hakeem Isholal-tutored Flamingos could have picked a point if they had got their acts right especially in the early part of the second half of the explosive match.
Infact, Flamingos started well by trading passes on a very lush green turf of the match venue as both sides enjoyed spells of possession in the opening 30 minutes before Poland were awarded a penalty in the 33rd minute during a goalmouth melee involving the Nigerian defender and a Polish attacker.
After a long review by the Video Support system, the referee pointed to the spot and a well composed Wiktoria Skrzypczak stepped up and converted to give Poland the lead as the scoreline stayed 0-1 at half time.
Poland came out forcefully on resumption leaving Nigeria to chase the match and the Polish thought they had doubled their lead in the 63rd minute, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
But it did not take long before Poland’s forward Natalia Skrok made it 2-0 in the 65th minute, capitalising on a poor clearance by the Nigerian defence.
However, Busari responded with double substitutions in the 68th minute, introducing the duo of Oluebube Umejiaku and Awawu Bashiru for ineffective Harmony Chidi and Mary Dunstan.
Sensing the match was slipping out of his hands, the Nigerian gaffer would also make extra two substitutions in 78th minute, with Kanyinsola Yusuf and Precious Oscar coming on as replacements for Queen Joseph and Adesuyi.
Indeed, the changes paid off in the 79th minute when Yusuf pulled one back for Nigeria shortly after coming on, giving the Flamingos hope of salvaging a result.
A resurgent Nigeria could have tied the scores as Flamingos
appealed for a penalty in the 86th minute following an incident involving forward Kemi Adegbuyi, but the referee upheld her original decision after another long review.
Yet, Nigeria continued to press for an equaliser deep into the added six minutes of the match but inexperience, stage fright and lack of tactics undone the Flamingos on the night as Poland held on with their teeth to claim all three points which was their aim their next opponent North Korea demolished debutants Puerto Rico 6-0 in the early match on the same venue.
Nigeria will hope to bounce back when they face hapless Puerto Rico in their next Group B fixture on Tuesday, 20 October, before taking on Korea DPR on Friday, 23 October.
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