Nigeria’s hopes at the 2025 U-17 Women’s World Cup came to an end on Tuesday following a crushing 4-0 loss to Italy in the Round of 16.
The Flamingos, who advanced to the knockout stage as one of the best third-placed teams, were undone by defensive lapses and poor goalkeeping as Italy dominated the second half to secure a convincing victory and progress to the quarter-finals.
Despite showing early promise, the Nigerian girls struggled to find their rhythm. They pressed hard for an opening goal in the first half but failed to convert their chances. The Italians took the lead through Anna Copelli after 45 minutes, giving them control of the game at halftime.
Italy extended their advantage in the 58th minute when Caterina Venturelli fired home a second. Giulia Robino added a third soon after, putting the match beyond Nigeria’s reach. In stoppage time, Rachele Giudici sealed the rout with a fourth goal, completing a memorable night for the Italians and ending Nigeria’s campaign in disappointment.
The Flamingos had earlier qualified for the Round of 16 after a dominant 4-0 victory over Samoa, a result that secured their place as one of the best runners-up. Before that, they had lost 1-0 to France and 4-1 to Canada in their group-stage matches.
This early exit comes as a setback for Nigeria, who finished third at the 2022 edition, their best performance in the history of the competition.
Elsewhere in the tournament, defending champions North Korea booked their spot in the quarter-finals with a resounding 6-1 win over hosts Morocco, who managed a consolation goal through Maissane Ferkous. Brazil also advanced after cruising past China 3-0, setting up a quarter-final clash against the winner between Canada and Zambia.
In another thriller, goalkeeper Maren Groothoff emerged as the hero as the Netherlands defeated the USA 7-6 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regular time. Liv Pennock opened scoring for the Dutch, but Micayla Johnson equalised for the Americans with a stunning long-range effort.
What you should know
The Flamingos’ exit marks a disappointing end to Nigeria’s campaign at the 2025 U-17 Women’s World Cup.
Despite a spirited effort, costly defensive errors and Italy’s clinical finishing proved decisive.
The result also underscores the growing competitiveness of women’s football globally, as traditional powerhouses like Nigeria now face tougher challenges from emerging European sides.
