Nigeria’s Flamingos booked their place in the semi-finals of this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals after securing a 1-0 victory over Venezuela on Sunday night, with Azeezatt Oduntan scoring a late penalty in the 89th minute.
The quarter-final contest had been closely fought, with Nigeria creating several opportunities but finding Venezuela goalkeeper Valeria Rebanales a huge stumbling block. The Flamingos enjoyed much of the attacking play in the first half, but Rebanales produced a couple of saves to keep the scores level.
Midfielder Favour Nkwocha was also cautioned as Nigeria continued to press for an opening goal. Head Coach Hakeem Busari made his first change of the evening, introducing Precious Oscar for Oluwakemi Adegbuyi as Nigeria looked to find a way through.
The deadlock remained unbroken until the 88th minute, when the referee initially awarded Nigeria a penalty before being invited to the VAR monitor to review the decision. Following the review, the penalty was upheld, and Oduntan stepped forward to convert from the spot with a minute left on the clock, giving Nigeria the breakthrough.
Top scorer Oluebube Umejiaku had won the penalty for the Flamingos, setting up Oduntan to deliver the decisive moment of the contest. The victory sends Nigeria into the semi-finals, where they will face Brazil, who secured a 2-1 win over China in their quarter-final encounter.

Britain’s Harriet Dart won the first WTA Tour singles title of her career as she beat Austrian teenager Lilli Tagger in the Guangzhou Open final.
Dart, 30, was overcome by emotion following a 4-6 6-3 6-4 victory in a tense final.
The gutsy victory capped a stunning run for Dart, who came through qualifying to lift the trophy at the WTA 250 event.
“Since I was a little girl, lifting a trophy on the WTA Tour has been something I’ve dreamt of. To be able to finally do it is amazing,” Dart told BBC Sport.
“It’s crazy to be sitting here as champion after coming through qualifying – it’s mad really.
“It’s been a wild week – I’m super proud of myself.”
The British number five, ranked 115th in the world, twice had a lead in the decider wiped out by 18-year-old Tagger.
But Dart broke for a third time for 4-3 and held serve to move within one game of the title.
Dart held two championship points on 53rd-ranked Tagger’s serve in the ninth game – dumping an inviting mid-court ball into the net on the second – but recovered to seal victory in the biggest match of her career.

She took her third championship point with a service winner, falling to the court in joy before celebrating with her team.

As well as taking home the trophy, Dart will be rewarded for the best week of her career by climbing back inside the world’s top 100.

Juventus has been advised to sign Victor Osimhen from Turkish side, Galatasaray.
The advice was given by former Italian international Marco Borriello
Juventus are eager to sign an elite striker to help them return to the top of European football.
The Nigerian international has played for Napoli, where he proved himself as one of Europe’s most prolific and formidable centre-forwards.
During his 133 appearances across all competitions for Napoli, Osimhen scored 76 goals and made 18 assists, helping the Italian side win the Serie A title, their first in 33 years.
Borriello commended the Galatasaray forward’s physical ability and familiarity with Italian football, contending that his knowledge of Serie A places him as an appropriate signing for Juventus.
“I want a great number nine. Osimhen? Maybe. He is strong, he knows Serie A and Spalletti.

But beyond Osimhen, we need a top-level striker,” Borriello said.

Osimhen has registered nine goals and delivered three assists across nine matches in the current season.

Reports indicate that Napoli incorporated an anti-Italy provision in the agreement that facilitated the former African Footballer of the Year’s transfer to Galatasaray.

This provision allegedly mandates that the Turkish club remit a financial penalty to Napoli should they transfer the forward to any Serie A institution prior to the conclusion of the 2027 summer transfer window.