Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, have booked their place in the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco after securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Venezuela in their quarter-final encounter.

According to a report by Flashscore on Sunday, November 1, 2026, team captain Azeezat Oduntan proved to be the difference between both sides, scoring a decisive late penalty to send Nigeria into the last four of the competition.

The encounter was closely contested, with both teams displaying determination and defensive discipline as they searched for an opening goal. However, neither side managed to find the back of the net during the regulation period until Nigeria received a crucial opportunity towards the closing stages.

With just a minute remaining before the 90-minute mark, the Flamingos were awarded a penalty, giving them an opportunity to secure victory after a difficult contest against the South American side.

Oduntan took responsibility for the spot-kick and showed remarkable confidence under pressure. The Nigerian captain calmly converted the penalty in the 89th minute, beating the Venezuelan goalkeeper and giving her team a valuable 1-0 advantage.

Following the breakthrough, Nigeria remained organised and focused during the remaining minutes, successfully preventing Venezuela from finding an equaliser.

Oduntan's contribution highlighted her importance to the team, particularly her leadership and ability to deliver during crucial moments. Beyond scoring the winning goal, the defender has also played an important role in maintaining Nigeria's defensive structure throughout the tournament.

The victory represents another important milestone for the Flamingos, who have continued to demonstrate resilience and determination in their quest for the championship.

Nigeria will now turn their attention to the semi-final scheduled for Wednesday, November 4, 2026, as they prepare to face another opponent with a place in the final at stake. The young Nigerian side will be hoping to maintain its impressive momentum and move closer to lifting the trophy.