Nigeria’s Flamingos will face Mexico in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, as four African nations advance to the knockout stage of the competition.
The Flamingos will take on Mexico on Thursday, October 29, at 3:00 p.m. Nigerian time at the Women’s Football Complex in Morocco, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.
Ghana, hosts Morocco and Kenya have joined Nigeria in the last 16, giving Africa four representatives in the knockout stage of the tournament.
Nigeria finished second in Group B with six points after recovering from a 2–1 opening defeat to Poland with victories over Puerto Rico and defending champions DPR Korea.
The Flamingos beat Puerto Rico 2–0 before producing one of the group stage’s biggest results with a 3–1 victory over DPR Korea, ending the defending champions’ unbeaten run in the competition and securing qualification.
Mexico also finished second in Group F with six points. After losing 2–0 to Spain in their opening match, they responded with a 3–1 victory over Chile and a 1–0 win against Australia to book their Round of 16 ticket.
The meeting presents Nigeria with an opportunity to advance to the quarter-finals as they pursue another strong finish after claiming bronze at the 2022 edition in India.
Four African Nations Carry Continent’s Hopes
Ghana secured qualification after finishing second in Group C with four points. The Black Maidens recovered from a 3–0 defeat to Norway and a 3–3 draw with Brazil by beating Canada 2–0 in their final group match.
They will face Argentina on Wednesday, October 28, at 6:00 p.m. Nigerian time.
Hosts Morocco progressed as one of the best third-placed teams despite losing their final two group matches after opening their campaign with a 4–0 victory over New Zealand. The Atlas Lionesses will meet DPR Korea on Wednesday at 3:00 p.m.
Kenya completed Africa’s four-team contingent after defeating Samoa 4–0 in their final Group E match. The victory secured a historic knockout-stage qualification for the Junior Starlets, who will face Japan on Thursday at 6:00 p.m.
The four African sides will now seek victories to reach the quarter-finals and extend the continent’s presence in the competition.
FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup: Complete Round of 16 Fixtures
All kick-off times are Nigerian time (WAT).
Wednesday, October 28, 2026
- 3:00 p.m. — Germany vs Venezuela
- 3:00 p.m. — DPR Korea vs Morocco
- 6:00 p.m. — Argentina vs Ghana
- 6:00 p.m. — Brazil vs Poland
Thursday, October 29, 2026
- 3:00 p.m. — Nigeria vs Mexico
- 3:00 p.m. — China PR vs France
- 6:00 p.m. — Japan vs Kenya
- 6:00 p.m. — Spain vs United States
The Round of 16 matches will determine the eight teams advancing to the quarter-finals, scheduled for Sunday, November 1.
For Nigeria, Ghana, Morocco and Kenya, the immediate challenge is to convert their group-stage qualification into further progress and keep Africa’s historic campaign alive in Morocco.
