Canada’s victory over Nigeria in their opening match at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Sale, Morocco saw Melisa Kekic scoring the winning goal in the 73rd minute, followed by two more goals from substitute Julia Amireh. Canada took the lead early on with a goal from Gabriela Istocki in the second minute, but Nigeria equalized through Queen Joseph in the 30th minute. The decisive moment came when Kekic scored after a great pass from Chloe Taylor, and Amireh added two more goals in the 80th and 86th minute.
Despite being outshot by Nigeria 17-10, Canada managed to secure the win. The Canadians will face Samoa next before playing against France on October 25 in Group D.
In the first half, Nigeria dominated possession and had more shots on target, but Canada’s defense held firm. Nigeria’s territorial advantage resulted in several long-range attempts, with Joseph managing to score the equalizer. The match saw both teams struggling with ball control, but Canada’s resilience paid off with a strong performance in the second half.
Canada faced a setback before the tournament with the injury of co-captain Emma Reda. However, the team is determined to make a mark in the competition after missing out on the 2024 FIFA U-17 tournament. Led by coach Jen Herst, Canada aims to advance to the Round of 16 by finishing among the top teams in their group.
The tournament in Morocco features competitive teams like defending champion North Korea and strong contenders like Nigeria. With Canada’s impressive start, the team is poised to make a significant impact in this year’s FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
