U-17 WWC: Nigeria vs Canada – preview, date, time, and where to watch

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Nigeria vs Canada – preview, date, time, and wherever to watch

The hold is yet implicit arsenic Nigeria’s Flamingos statesman their quest for planetary glory erstwhile they look Canada successful their opening Group D lucifer of the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup successful Morocco.

For the archetypal clip successful history, the world’s biggest women’s younker shot tourney is being held connected African ungraded — and for Nigeria, a squad that has flown the continent’s emblem with pridefulness successful astir each edition, it feels similar destiny’s homecoming.

This is Nigeria’s eighth quality astatine the U-17 Women’s World Cup since its inception successful 2008. The Flamingos person earned a estimation arsenic Africa’s astir accordant squad astatine this level — resilient, technical, and relentless successful pursuit of success.

They person reached the semi-finals doubly and claimed a historical third-place decorativeness successful 2022, their champion showing yet. Across 28 matches successful tourney history, Nigeria boast 14 wins, 7 draws, and 7 losses, a grounds that places them among the elite nations successful women’s younker football.

But for caput manager Bankole Olowookere, the people this clip is clear: to alteration consistency into title success.

The Canada Test

Sunday’s clash with Canada is much than a radical opener — it is simply a tone-setter for Nigeria’s Group D journey, which besides features France and Samoa.

Canada, returning to the contention aft missing the 2022 edition, stay a accepted powerhouse successful women’s younker football. This gathering volition beryllium the 2nd clip some nations look each different astatine the U-17 level.

Their archetypal brushwood came successful Azerbaijan 2012, erstwhile Amandine Pierre-Louis gave Canada the pb earlier Chinwendu Ihezuo equalised for Nigeria successful a 1-1 draw. The Flamingos went connected to apical the group, famously defeating hosts Azerbaijan 11-0 — inactive the biggest triumph successful U-17 Women’s World Cup history.

Twelve years later, the signifier is acceptable for different memorable showdown — but this time, Nigeria are nary longer underdogs; they are contenders.

Team News: Nigeria vs Canada

Nigeria volition beryllium without Chidi Harmony, 1 of their astir breathtaking attacking talents, who misses the tourney done injury. Her lack is simply a setback, but the enactment baton rests firmly with Captain Shakirat Moshood, the team’s driving unit and attacking leader.

Moshood, nominated for the 2025 CAF Young Player of the Year, scored 4 goals successful the past tourney and remains cardinal to Nigeria’s hopes. Her composure, creativity, and quality to nexus up play could marque the quality against Canada’s well-organised defence.

African Pride, Continental Stakes

Nigeria are 1 of 5 African teams astatine this year’s World Cup — alongside hosts Morocco, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, and Zambia. Following Morocco’s 3-0 nonaccomplishment to Brazil successful the opening match, attraction present shifts to the Flamingos to reconstruct African pridefulness and momentum.

A beardown show successful this opener could animate not lone Nigeria but the full continent, reaffirming Africa’s rising power successful planetary women’s football.

Match Details: