Melisa Kekic secured a crucial goal in the 73rd minute, propelling Canada to a 4-1 victory over Nigeria in their inaugural match at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Sale, Morocco. Fellow substitute Julia Amireh then sealed the win with two additional goals. Canada took an early lead through Gabriela Istocki, but Nigeria equalized courtesy of Queen Joseph in the 30th minute. The turning point came when Chloe Taylor’s precise pass found Kekic, who fired a low shot past Nigerian goalkeeper Elizabeth Boniface to put Canada back in front.
Amireh extended Canada’s lead with two well-taken goals, taking advantage of defensive lapses by the Nigerian team. Despite being outshot 17-10 by Nigeria, Canada’s clinical finishing secured the victory. Coach Jen Herst’s team will face Samoa next before a showdown against France on October 25 in Group D action. The top two teams from each group, along with the four best third-placed teams, will progress to the Round of 16.
In the first half, Canada capitalized on Molly Hale’s assist to Istocki, but Nigeria dominated possession and outshot Canada 13-2. Despite Canada’s early lead, Nigeria’s territorial dominance paid off with Joseph’s equalizer. The match saw both teams squander opportunities, with Nigeria taking several long-range shots. A late surge from Canada almost resulted in another goal, but Istocki narrowly missed the target on Reed Tingley’s cross.
Canada faced adversity before the tournament, losing co-captain Emma Reda to injury. The team missed out on the 2024 FIFA U-17 World Cup but has a strong history in the competition, with a fourth-place finish in 2018 being their best result. Led by interim coach Gary Moody, Canada’s young squad qualified for the 2025 tournament by winning their CONCACAF qualifying group.
Nigeria, a seasoned competitor in the tournament, has consistently performed well, finishing third in 2022 and reaching the quarterfinals multiple times. The defending champion, North Korea, and Spain have also been formidable contenders in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
