Flamingos face Mexico test as Ikpeme urges focus in U-17 World Cup

Nigeria’s Flamingos have been told to maintain their concentration as they prepare to face Mexico in the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.

Acting General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, delivered the message during a visit to the team’s afternoon training session in Rabat on Wednesday. He urged the players to put their group-stage victory over Korea DPR behind them and focus fully on the knockout tie.

The Flamingos will meet Mexico on Thursday, October 29, with the winners securing a place in the quarter-finals. Nigeria are continuing their pursuit of success at the tournament after an impressive group-stage campaign.

The fixture will revive memories of the sides’ previous meeting at the 2014 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica. Nigeria won that Group D match 3-0 on March 23, 2014, at the Estadio Nacional in San Jose.

Rasheedat Ajibade, Uchenna Kanu and Aminat Yakubu scored for the Flamingos in that emphatic victory.

Nigeria head coach Hakeem Busari had earlier warned his players not to become complacent after their group-stage wins against Puerto Rico and defending champions Korea DPR. He stressed that they would need to be mentally and physically prepared for the increased demands of knockout football.

With a quarter-final place at stake, the Flamingos will look to carry their strong group-stage form into Thursday’s meeting with Mexico.