The fight for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup title in Morocco is heating up. Only eight countries remain from the initial 24 that started the tournament. Nigeria’s Flamingos and Ghana’s Black Maidens are among them. Both teams need two more wins to reach the final. They are gearing up for key quarter-final matches against Venezuela and Japan.
With teams from four continents still competing, the quarter-finals promise exciting matches. For Africa, Nigeria and Ghana carry the hopes of the continent. The Black Maidens will face Japan, while the Flamingos prepare to take on Venezuela.
Nigeria’s journey has been uplifting after a rocky start. They lost their first Group B match 2-1 to Poland. But Akeem Busari’s team bounced back with wins against Puerto Rico and the defending champions, DPR Korea. They then eliminated Mexico in the round of 16.
The Flamingos are now aiming for their first semi-final appearance since finishing third at the 2022 edition in India. But they must overcome a Venezuelan team that has already upset stronger opponents.
![Ghana vs Japan [Credit: Ghanawnt on X]](https://i0.wp.com/media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2026/10/1004467863.jpg?resize=1080%2C1350&ssl=1)
Ghana vs Japan: Black Maidens carry Africa’s hopes
Ghana has been one of the most entertaining teams in the tournament. After a tough opening defeat, they have bounced back impressively to reach the quarter-finals. The Black Maidens showed their attacking flair in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Brazil. They secured important wins against Canada and Argentina. Their place in the quarter-finals was confirmed through a dramatic penalty shootout win over Argentina in the round of 16.
They are now set to face a strong Japanese team. Japan has played well so far, finally conceding their first goal in a comeback win against Kenya. Before that, they had three straight wins against Zambia, France, and Venezuela, without letting in a goal. This shows their strong defense, making them one of the top teams in the tournament.
This match gives Ghana a chance to keep Africa’s hopes alive in the semi-finals. But they need to combine their attack with solid defense against Japan, who have shown they can compete at a high level.
Nigeria vs Venezuela: Flamingos target historic Semi-Final return
For Nigeria, the quarter-final against Venezuela is another chance to show their growing confidence and strengthen Africa’s title challenge. Busari’s team had a rocky start in Group B, losing 2-1 to Poland in their first match. That loss put pressure on them to respond strongly.
They did just that by beating Puerto Rico 2-0. Then they pulled off one of the biggest surprises of the tournament by defeating the defending champions, DPR Korea, 3-1. This win boosted the team’s confidence and showed they could compete with the best.
Carrying that momentum, Nigeria won against Mexico 2-1 in the round of 16. This victory was another big statement from Busari’s young team, who have grown in confidence since their first match.
Their next challenge is Venezuela, who also have their sights set high. Despite only getting three points in the group stage, La Vinotinto stepped up their game when it mattered most. They beat Germany 1-0 to secure their quarter-final spot.
Venezuela is chasing their third straight semi-final appearance, making them a tough opponent for Nigeria. The Flamingos must keep up the intensity and discipline that helped them beat DPR Korea and Mexico. They need to be sharp in attack and organized in defense against a Venezuelan team that knows how to take advantage of mistakes.
A win would take Nigeria into the semi-finals for the first time since their memorable third-place finish in India in 2022. This would keep their dreams alive for another successful tournament on the world stage.
With Ghana also competing in the last eight, Africa hopes both teams can succeed and keep the continent’s football aspirations strong. For Busari and his Flamingos, the goal is clear: beat Venezuela, reach the semi-finals, and take a step closer to bringing the U-17 Women’s World Cup trophy back to Nigeria.
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