By

Eniola Olatunji reporting 

The news from Morocco in the ongoing U17 Female world football cup is not good as all the five African countries on parade including Flamingoes of Nigeria have been pushed to the exit door at the end of their second group matches.

Nigeria played well as they did against Canada holding the game goalless in the first half just like they held Canada goalless in the first game, but a lone strike in the 81st minute by Mid Fielder Maissa Fathallah from a Raffien pass got it for France. A Nigerian Rachael Adedini who almost wrecked the Nigeria defence in the first half due to her physical play that got her a yellow was changed in the 2nd half.

Nigeria that boasted of a redemption match against France has been dropped to the 3rd position in group D having no point scored just a goal and conceded 5 leaving Canada at the top with 6 points scoring a good 10 goals and conceding one; France is 2nd with 6 points also having 5 goals and conceding 2 while Samoa is 4th also with no point scoring 2 goals and conceding 10. Nigeria meets Samoa on Saturday at 5 pm for the last group match and needs a massive victory with plenty of goals to have a best Loser slot.

Hosts Morocco [ost to Italy 0-3 yesterday Tuesday and lies at the 3rd position in Group A where Italy is leading with 6 points scoring 6 goals and conceding one; Brazil is 2nd with 4 points scoring 4 goals and conceding one; Costa Rica is 3rd with a point , one goal for and 4 against. Morocco has to win the last group match against Costa Rica on Friday at 8pm to stay in the game probably through Best Losers chance.

The Cameroonian babes lost 1-2 to North Korea in group B. That made the Koreans top the group with 6 points scoring 4 goals and conceding one; Nether Lands is 2nd with 4 points 4 goals scored and none conceded; Mexico has 3 points scoring one goal and conceding 2 while Cameroon has no point scored 4 goals and conceded 6. Cameroon has to beat Mexico on Friday when they meet at 8pm.

Zambia lost 0-2 to Japan on Wednesday throwing the country to the bottom in group F. She has no point scored just a goal and conceded 4; Japan leads with 6 points scoring 5 goals and has a clean slate; Paraguay is 2nd with 4 points scored 2 goals and conceded one while New Zealand is 3rd with a point no goal scored but 3 goals conceded. Zambia meets New Zealand on Saturday at 8pm for the last group game.   

Ivory Coast lost miserably 0-3 to Colombia in group E to go stay at the 3rd position with 1 point scoring one goal and conceding 4; Spain tops that group with 6 points scoring 9 goals with a clean slate; Colombia is 2nd with 3 Points 3 goals for and 4 against while South Korea is 4th with one point one goal scored and 6 conceded. Ivory Coast has an Herculian task in beating Spain in their last group match on Saturday at 2pm.  

The Flamingoes of Nigeria only met their French counterpart once at the Quarterfinal of the 2012 world cup at Baku, Azerbaijan before a crowd of 6,852 fans and North Korean RefRi Hyang-ok in charge on 4th October 2012 which Nigeria lost via penalty kick 5-3  after a goalless full time.

France that year emerged as the first none Asian to lift the trophy after beating fellow African team, Ghana 2-0 in the semifinal also beat North Korea 7-6 via penalty kick after 1-1 at full time in the finals. France that is in their 4th appearance always lost at group stages in 2008 and 2022.

Nigeria had been to the tournament finals 7 times getting the Bronze with a 3-2 win over Germany on penalties after 3-3 at full time at India 2022. She lost in the semifinal to Colombia5-6 on penalties after a goalless full time. Nigeria got to the quarters three times at Azerbaijan 2012; Costa Rica 2014 and Dominican Republic 2024.

Nigeria lost woefully 1-4 to Canada while France beat Samoa 4-2 in the group opening matches. Last group matches will be played on Saturday at 5pm simultaneously between Canada and France while Nigeria rescues pride against Samoa.

The 9th world U17 female football Tournament holding in Morocco is to end on 8th November 2025.