Azeezat Oduntan waited until the 89th minute. Then Nigeria’s captain stepped up and scored the penalty that put the Flamingos, the country’s under-17 women’s team, into the World Cup semi-final in Morocco on Sunday.
The 1-0 win over Venezuela was the quarter-final. It sends a team of teenage African girls back to the last four for the first time since 2022, only the second semi-final in Nigeria’s history. That year the Flamingos lost to Colombia on penalties.
It was not supposed to be smooth. Nigeria opened Group B with a 2-1 loss to Poland. They then beat Puerto Rico and went on to defeat DPR Korea, the defending champions, ending the Koreans’ run of 18 unbeaten matches in regulation time at the tournament, according to Africa Soccer. In the round of 16 on Oct. 30, goals from Oluebube Umejiaku and Mary Dunstan beat Mexico 2-1 at the Mohammed VI Football Academy in Salé.
Against Venezuela, who had knocked out Germany, the Flamingos pressed for 88 minutes and met a goalkeeper in form. Valeria Rebanales saved efforts from Tosin Rafiu in the 19th minute and Dunstan in the 35th. Then Umejiaku was fouled in the area, and Oduntan, the captain, took the kick that decided it.
Coach Akeem Busari has built the side that came back from the opening-day loss and has not lost since. For girls across Nigeria and the diaspora who watch this age group, it is proof that African women’s football does not need a favorable draw to reach the last four of a world tournament. It needs the games, the coaching and the belief, which this squad has plainly had.
The semi-final is next.
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