Nigeria's Flamingos beat Puerto Rico 2-0 in Rabat on Tuesday night to claim their first win at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, according to Daily Post Nigeria. Oluwakemi Adegbuyi, named Player of the Match, opened the scoring in the 25th minute, and Precious Oscar added a second goal in stoppage time.
The result lifts Nigeria to third place in Group B after an opening-day loss to Poland. The team now needs at least a draw against defending champions DPR Korea in its final group game on Friday to reach the Round of 16.
Why it matters
Nigeria arrived at the tournament among the sides expected to compete, and the defeat to Poland left little room for error. Facing a Puerto Rico team making its debut at this level, the Flamingos could not afford to drop points, and the win keeps their campaign in their own hands.
For Adegbuyi, the night carried a second kind of weight. Her first-half strike was her first goal at a World Cup, and she described it as a milestone in her career.
Adegbuyi: "The game was not easy"
Speaking to FIFA after the match, Adegbuyi said the contest demanded everything from Nigeria but credited her teammates for seeing it through.
"The game was not easy for us, but we tried our best and we were able to get the three points today," she said, as reported by Daily Post Nigeria.
She added that scoring on such a stage brought both joy and a sense of responsibility.
"I'm happy and very excited because this is my first goal in these tournaments, on the biggest stage," she said. "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."
A lead held, then sealed late
Adegbuyi's 25th-minute goal gave Nigeria an early advantage, but Puerto Rico, appearing at the tournament for the first time, competed throughout. Daily Post Nigeria reports that the Flamingos had to hold firm against a determined opponent before Oscar's goal deep into stoppage time removed any doubt about the outcome.
The timing of the second goal mattered. A one-goal margin would have left Nigeria vulnerable to a late equaliser; the second goal closed the match and protected the three points.
What to watch
Nigeria's final Group B fixture against DPR Korea on Friday is now the decisive one. The defending champions present the sternest test of the group, and a draw would be enough for the Flamingos to secure a place in the Round of 16.
