Melisa Kekic netted the decisive goal in the 73rd minute, and Julia Amireh, another substitute, secured two additional goals as Canada triumphed over Nigeria 4-1 in their initial match at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup held in Sale, Morocco. Kekic’s goal put Canada ahead 2-1, with Amireh extending the lead by scoring in the 80th and 86th minute. Gabriela Istocki initially gave Canada the lead in the second minute, but Nigeria’s Queen Joseph equalized in the 30th minute. Canada reclaimed the lead thanks to a superb pass from Chloe Taylor that set up Kekic to score from the edge of the penalty box. Amireh capitalized on a loose ball in the Nigerian box for her first goal and then scored her second by outmaneuvering a defender to connect with a cross from captain Olivia Chisholm. Nigeria outshot Canada 17-10, with Canada having one corner compared to Nigeria’s four. Canada, under the guidance of coach Jen Herst, will face Samoa next before taking on France on October 25 in Group D action. The top two teams from each group, along with the four best third-place finishers, will progress to the Round of 16.
In the first half, Canada took the lead early as Molly Hale set up Istocki for a simple finish inside the Nigerian penalty box. However, Nigerian goalkeeper Khadijah Cisse faced more action than her Canadian counterpart as Nigeria dominated possession in the Canadian half. Nigeria outshot Canada 13-2 in the first half, with many attempts coming from long range. Nigeria drew level in the 30th minute when Joseph capitalised on a rebound from Cisse’s save. The match saw both teams squander opportunities, with Canada coming close to scoring again in the 39th minute. An appeal for a penalty in the 57th minute was denied after a review by the referee. Canada introduced 15-year-old Melyna Alexis in the 61st minute, and shortly after, Emma Donnelly’s shot narrowly missed the target.
Canada was dealt a blow before the tournament began as co-captain Emma Reda sustained an injury. Despite missing out on the 2024 FIFA U-17 tournament, Canada has a history of strong performances in previous editions. Led by interim coach Gary Moody, Canada qualified for the 2025 FIFA tournament by finishing on top of its CONCACAF qualifying group. Nigeria, a seasoned competitor in the U-17 Women’s World Cup, qualified for the 2025 tournament by defeating South Africa and Algeria. North Korea and Spain have been dominant forces in the competition, with North Korea winning the title three times and Spain reaching the final on four occasions, emerging victorious twice.
