Canada Stuns Nigeria with a 4-1 Victory at FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup
Canada made a resounding statement in their opening match of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, Group D, with a dominant 4-1 win over African powerhouse Nigeria. The match, played at the Football Academy Mohammed VI, saw Canada’s attack click into high gear, overcoming an early equalizer from the Nigerian side.
Canada took an almost immediate lead, with Gabriela Istocki finding the back of the net just two minutes into the game, catching the Nigerian defense off guard.
The Flamingos, however, quickly responded. Nigeria’s key attacker, Queen Joseph, leveled the scoreline in the 30th minute, injecting energy back into her team and ensuring the sides went into the half-time break locked at 1-1.
The second half was a completely different story, as Canada showcased their depth and offensive threat. Midfielder Melisa Kekic restored Canada’s lead in the 73rd minute.
The late stages of the match saw Canadian forward Julia Amireh explode onto the scene, securing the victory with a remarkable brace. Amireh struck first in the 80th minute and then again just six minutes later in the 86th minute to complete the 4-1 rout.
The result hands Canada a crucial three points in what is considered a challenging Group D, which also features France and Samoa. Nigeria will now need to regroup quickly as they look to bounce back in their remaining group stage fixtures.
