Melisa Kekic secured the decisive goal in the 73rd minute, and substitute Julia Amireh netted two additional goals as Canada triumphed over Nigeria 4-1 in their opening match at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Sale, Morocco. Kekic’s goal gave Canada a 2-1 lead, followed by Amireh scoring in the 80th and 86th minute. Gabriela Istocki opened the scoring for Canada in the second minute, with Queen Joseph responding for Nigeria in the 30th minute. Canada regained the lead after a well-executed play by Chloe Taylor resulted in Kekic scoring from the edge of the penalty box.
Amireh capitalized on a defensive error by the Nigerian goalkeeper to score her first goal, and then sealed the victory by outmaneuvering a defender to convert a pass from captain Olivia Chisholm. Despite Nigeria outshooting Canada 17-10 and having more corner kicks, Canada’s clinical finishing made the difference.
Canada, led by coach Jen Herst, will face Samoa next before taking on France. The top two teams from each group, along with the four best third-place finishers, will advance to the Round of 16.
In the first half, Canada took the lead early through a goal by Gabriela Istocki, but Nigeria dominated possession and outshot Canada 13-2. Nigeria’s goal came from Joseph after a defensive lapse by Canada. The game saw both teams squander chances, with Nigeria’s shots mainly coming from long range.
Canada lost co-captain Emma Reda to injury before the tournament, impacting their lineup. Despite missing the previous U-17 tournament, Canada has a strong history in the competition, with their best finish being fourth in 2018. Nigeria, a seasoned participant in the tournament, has also achieved notable results in previous editions.
Both teams have shown promise in advancing further in the tournament, with Canada’s young squad demonstrating resilience and skill on the field. The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup promises more exciting matches as the competition progresses.
