Nigeria’s Flamingos have dropped to third place in Group B of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup following their 2-1 defeat to Poland in Rabat, Morocco. The result leaves the Nigerian youngsters under pressure ahead of their next fixture.
The current standings see defending champions Korea DPR lead the group with three points and a +6 goal difference after thrashing Puerto Rico 6-0. Poland occupy second place with three points and a +1 goal difference, while Nigeria sit third with zero points and a -1 goal difference. Puerto Rico are bottom with no points and a -6 goal difference. 
Head coach Akeem Busari and his players must now turn their attention to Tuesday’s encounter against Puerto Rico on October 20. A victory would give Nigeria three crucial points and improve their chances of reaching the Round of 16, while another defeat would leave their qualification hopes in serious danger.
Nigeria will then face a much tougher challenge against Korea DPR on October 23 in their final group-stage fixture. The reigning champions have established themselves as one of the leading forces in youth women’s football, making the encounter a significant test for the Flamingos. 
Despite the setback against Poland, Nigeria remain capable of recovering. Their triumph at the WAFU-B U-17 Girls’ Championship before the World Cup demonstrated their attacking potential, but they will need greater efficiency in front of goal and improved defensive concentration to turn that promise into results on the global stage.
The top two teams in each group will qualify automatically for the Round of 16, alongside the four best third-placed teams across the six groups. That format leaves Nigeria with a route into the knockout stage, but securing a positive result against Puerto Rico is now essential to keeping their campaign on track.