Melisa Kekic netted the decisive goal in the 73rd minute, with Julia Amireh, another substitute, securing two additional goals as Canada triumphed 4-1 over Nigeria in their debut match at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup held in Sale, Morocco. Kekic’s goal propelled Canada to a 2-1 advantage, followed by Amireh’s strikes in the 80th and 86th minutes. Gabriela Istocki initiated Canada’s lead in the second minute, while Queen Joseph responded for Nigeria in the 30th minute.
The turning point came when Chloe Taylor’s long pass split Nigeria’s defense, allowing Kekic to seize the opportunity and score from the edge of the penalty box. Amireh capitalized on a loose ball in the Nigerian penalty area, courtesy of Boniface’s error, to extend Canada’s lead. Amireh, representing the North Carolina Courage academy, clinched her second goal by outmaneuvering a defender to connect with a well-placed ball from captain Olivia Chisholm.
Despite being outshot by Nigeria 17-10 (with Nigeria leading 8-5 in shots on target) and conceding four corners to Nigeria’s one, Canada displayed resilience. Head coach Jen Herst’s squad is set to face Samoa next on Wednesday in Group D before meeting France on October 25. The tournament format allows the top two teams from each group, alongside the four best third-place finishers, to progress to the Round of 16.
In the first half, Canada took the lead early at the Football Academy Mohammed VI as Molly Hale’s penetrating run led to Istocki’s easy tap-in. However, Nigerian goalkeeper Khadijah Cisse faced more action as Nigeria dominated possession in the Canadian half. Nigeria outshot Canada 13-2 (6-1 in shots on target) in a half marked by both teams squandering chances, with Nigeria attempting several long-range shots.
Canada suffered a setback before the tournament with co-captain Emma Reda sidelined due to injury. Despite missing the 2024 FIFA U-17 tournament, Canada has a history of strong showings in previous editions. Led by interim coach Gary Moody, the team secured a spot in the 2025 FIFA tournament with an unbeaten record during CONCACAF qualifiers.
Nigeria, a seasoned competitor in the tournament, has a track record of success, finishing third in 2022 and reaching the quarterfinals multiple times. The defending champion, North Korea, has clinched the title three times, while Spain boasts four appearances in the final, securing two victories.