Melisa Kekic secured the decisive goal in the 73rd minute, with Julia Amireh, another substitute, scoring two additional goals as Canada triumphed over Nigeria 4-1 in their inaugural match at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Sale, Morocco. Kekic provided Canada a 2-1 lead before Amireh found the net in the 80th and 86th minutes. Gabriela Istocki initially put Canada in the lead in the second minute, countered by Queen Joseph for Nigeria in the 30th minute.
Canada regained the lead courtesy of Chloe Taylor’s precise pass that allowed Kekic to outmaneuver the Nigerian defense and score with a well-placed shot from the edge of the penalty box. Amireh capitalized on a loose ball in the Nigerian penalty box for her first goal, while her second goal came from a well-timed connection with a pass from captain Olivia Chisholm.
Despite Nigeria outshooting Canada 17-10 (8-5 on target) and earning four corners compared to Canada’s one, the Canadians displayed resilience. Coached by Jen Herst, Canada faces Samoa next in Group D on Wednesday before taking on France on October 25. The two top teams from each of the six groups, along with the four best third-place finishers, will progress to the Round of 16.
In the first half, Nigeria dominated possession, outshooting Canada 13-2 (6-1 on target), with both teams struggling with ball control. The humid conditions at the Football Academy Mohammed VI witnessed Nigeria’s territorial advantage, resulting in Joseph’s goal in the 30th minute after a failed save attempt by Canadian goalkeeper Khadijah Cisse.
Canada experienced a setback before the tournament as co-captain Emma Reda sustained an injury, causing her absence from the lineup. The team missed the 2024 FIFA U-17 tournament but had participated in the previous editions. Led by interim coach Gary Moody, Canada qualified for the 2025 FIFA tournament by emerging undefeated in their CONCACAF qualifying group.
Nigeria, a seasoned participant in previous tournaments, achieved a third-place finish in 2022 and has reached the quarterfinals multiple times. The defending champion North Korea and Spain have also showcased strong performances in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup history.
