Nigeria’s Flamingos are gearing up for one of their toughest tests yet as they take on high-flying Italy in the Round of 16 at the ongoing FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, Soccernet.ng reports.
The crucial encounter will take place on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at Pitch 2 of the Football Academy Mohamed VI in Rabat, with kick-off set for 8 pm local time.
A place in the quarter-finals beckons for Nigeria, but they face a formidable Italian side who have been unstoppable so far in the competition.
While Italy cruised through the group stage with three straight victories, the Flamingos had to dig deep, clawing their way through as one of the best third-place teams.
How Italy reached the knockout round
The Italians have been one of the standout teams of the tournament, registering a thrilling 4-3 win over Brazil, a 3-1 triumph against host Morocco, and a commanding 3-0 victory over Costa Rica.
Those results not only saw them finish top of Group A with a perfect nine points but also confirmed their attacking threat.
At the heart of their success is Giulia Galli, the tournament’s top scorer with five goals, whose sharpness in front of goal has made Italy one of the favourites for the title. With Galli in sensational form and their confidence soaring, Italy will arrive in Rabat believing they can continue their winning streak and march into the last eight.
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How Nigeria's Flamingos reached the knockout round
The Flamingos’ path to the knockout stages has been far from smooth.
They opened their campaign with a 4-1 loss to Canada and followed that with a narrow 1-0 defeat to France. But when it mattered most, the Nigerian girls responded emphatically, brushing aside Samoa 4-0 to secure qualification as one of the best third-placed teams.
Head coach Bankole Olowookere has praised his team’s resilience and is banking on that momentum to spark a spirited performance against the Italians. Nigeria’s forward line, led by the lively Queen Joseph, will need to be at their clinical best to trouble a disciplined Italian backline.
Nigeria vs Italy: Head to head record
This will be the first-ever meeting between Nigeria and Italy at the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup.
However, history favours the Europeans when it comes to clashes with African sides.
At the 2014 edition, Italy defeated Zambia 2-0 and went on to eliminate Ghana on penalties after a 2-2 draw in the quarter-finals. Their most recent African conquest came earlier in this tournament, when they beat hosts Morocco 3-1.
Nigeria, meanwhile, have struggled against European opposition, losing five and drawing one of their previous six encounters. Overturning that record would represent a major statement and a historic milestone for the Flamingos.
Nigeria vs Italy: When and how to watch
The Nigeria vs Italy clash kicks off at 8 pm on Tuesday, October 28, at the Football Academy Mohamed VI in Rabat.
Fans around the world can watch the match live on the FIFA+ streaming service, with several major cable networks also carrying the broadcast.
Prediction
Given Italy’s free-scoring form and Nigeria’s fighting spirit, this match could be tighter than many expect.
The Italians enter as favourites, but Nigeria’s unpredictability and growing confidence could make this one of the tournament’s most fascinating encounters.
- Prediction: Nigeria 2–2 Italy (Nigeria to edge it on penalties)
