Nigeria beats Puerto Rico 2-0, faces North Korea for World Cup last 16

Nigeria's U-17 women's team, the Flamingos, defeated Puerto Rico 2-0 in their Group B match at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Morocco on Tuesday, securing their first three points after an opening loss to Poland. Forward Oluwakemi Adegbuyi scored in the 25th minute, finishing from Queen Joseph's assist, while substitute Precious Oscar added a second goal in the 90th minute with a header from a cross. The victory revived Nigeria's qualification hopes following their 2-1 defeat to Poland on Saturday.

Head coach Akeem Busari made tactical adjustments to restore midfield composure and defensive stability after the opening loss. Nigeria controlled the match with high pressing and quick passing, limiting Puerto Rico's attacking opportunities despite the tournament debutants recording 14 shots. The Nigerian defence remained disciplined throughout, securing a clean sheet and holding firm through six minutes of added time.

The result sets up a decisive final Group B encounter against North Korea on Friday. North Korea, the tournament's defending champions, have dominated the group with a 6-0 victory over Puerto Rico and a 6-1 win over Poland, accumulating 12 goals in two matches. A Nigerian victory would guarantee qualification for the knockout stage; a draw would also likely secure a top-two finish. North Korea's strong form and goal-scoring record present a significant challenge for the Flamingos, who won bronze at the 2022 edition of the tournament.

Adegbuyi, named player of the match, expressed confidence despite the upcoming difficulty. "I'm very happy to score here, on the biggest stage of my life, because this is just the beginning. I promise to make my family and the whole nation proud," she said. Puerto Rico coach Andres Mirabelli acknowledged his team's improvement in the second half but cited the gap in level and first-half performance as deciding factors in the defeat.