Melisa Kekic scored the winner in the 73rd minute and fellow substitute Julia Amireh added two insurance goals as Canada defeated Nigeria 4-1 Sunday in its opening game at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Sale, Morocco.
After Kekic gave Canada a 2-1 lead, Amireh scored in the 80th and 86th minute.
Gabriela Istocki put Canada ahead in the second minute. Queen Joseph replied for Nigeria in the 30th minute.
The Canadians regained the lead after Chloe Taylor split the Nigerian defence with a long pass and Kekic, who entered the game 12 minutes earlier, beat Nigerian goalkeeper Elizabeth Boniface from the edge of the penalty box with a low shot to the corner.
Amireh’s first goal was more of the same. But this time Boniface could not hang onto a long Canadian ball in the Nigerian penalty box and Amireh, who plays for the North Carolina Courage academy, was there to knock it into the unprotected goal.
Amireh, who came on in the 72nd minute, scored her second by beating a defender to a ball sent in by captain Olivia Chisholm.
Nigeria outshot Canada 17-10 (8-5 in shots on target) and had four corners to Canada’s one.
Canada, coached by Jen Herst, continues Group D play Wednesday against tournament newcomer Samoa before facing France on Oct. 25. France downed Samoa 4-2 earlier Sunday.
The top two teams in each of the six groups, along with the four best third-place finishers, advance to the Round of 16.
Nigeria held territorial advance in 1st half
Canada went ahead early on a humid evening at the Football Academy Mohammed VI when Molly Hale, after a surging run into the Nigerian penalty box, found Istocki in front of goal for a tap-in.
But Canadian Khadijah Cisse was the busier of the two goalkeepers in the opening 45 minutes as Nigeria spent much of the time in the Canadian end.
Nigeria outshot Canada 13-2 (6-1 in shots on target) in a first half that saw both teams wasteful with the ball. Many of the Nigerian shots were from long range.
One of those attempts paid off in the 30th minute when Cisse could not hang on to Kaosarat Olanrewaju’s low shot from the edge of the penalty box. Joseph beat defender Bridget Mutipula to the ball to poke it home from close range.
There was almost a repeat of the Canadian goal in the 39th minute, this time with Reed Tingley making the run and the cross. Istocki’s redirect was just wide.
A Canadian appeal had Spanish referee Olatz Rivera Olmedo go to the pitchside monitor to review a 57th-minute play that saw Istocki go down in the Nigerian penalty box. But she stuck by her original decision to wave play on.
The video support system allows coaches two requests per game for a video review. If the review by the referee results in the original decision being changed, the team retains its request.
Melyna Alexis, a 15-year-old from Mascouche, Que., came on for Canada in the 61st minute. Soon after, substitute Emma Donnelly’s shot flashed just wide of the Nigerian goalpost.
Reda out of Canadian lineup
Canada lost co-captain Emma Reda to injury on the eve of the tournament. The 16-year-old midfielder from Woodbridge, Ont., the daughter of former Canadian international Marco Reda, was hurt in training.
Canada missed out on the 2024 FIFA U-17 tournament but made the seven previous editions. CONCACAF only sent two teams to the 2024 FIFA championship, with CONCACAF’s Dominican Republic hosting the tournament, and Canada finished third in qualifying after losing 2-1 to Mexico after extra time in the semifinal.
Canada’s best showing was fourth in 2018. It made the quarterfinals in 2008, 2012 and 2014.
Led by interim coach Gary Moody, the young Canadians qualified for the 2025 FIFA tournament in April, going unbeaten in topping its CONCACAF qualifying group by beating Nicaragua (5-0), Panama (2-0) and Puerto Rico (3-2).
Nigeria has competed in seven of the eight previous tournaments, finishing third in 2022 and making the quarterfinals four other times including in 2024. The top seed in the 2025 African U-17 Women’s World Cup, the Nigerians qualified with wins over South Africa and Algeria.
Defending champion North Korea has won the FIFA U-17 title three times and finished runner-up once while Spain has made the final four times, winning twice.
At 21, Canadian soccer phenom Olivia Smith has represented her country, launched her professional career and set a world record with a nearly $2-million Cdn transfer fee. Smith spoke to CBC’s Briar Stewart about her journey from Whitby, Ont., to the Arsenal Women Football Club — and keeping her focus on the pitch despite newfound attention off of it.
