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According to Daily post, Nigeria and Ghana have qualified for the quarter-final stage of the ongoing 2026 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Morocco, ensuring that two African countries remain in contention for the title.
The two West African nations secured their places in the last eight after recording important victories in their respective Round of 16 encounters.
Nigeria became the latest African country to progress after defeating Mexico 2-1 on Thursday.
The Flamingos produced a strong performance to overcome their Mexican opponents and keep their hopes of winning the tournament alive.
The victory was particularly important for Nigeria, which will now prepare for another challenging encounter as the competition enters its decisive phase.
Ghana, meanwhile, booked their quarter-final ticket on Wednesday after overcoming Argentina in a dramatic penalty shoot-out.
The match ended in a 1-1 draw after normal time before Ghana prevailed 5-4 on penalties to secure qualification.
The victory demonstrated the determination of the Ghanaian team, which held its nerve during the shoot-out to eliminate the South American side.
Ghana's progression means the country will join Nigeria as Africa's representatives in the quarter-final stage of the competition.
Both countries will now turn their attention to the next round, hoping to maintain their performances and advance to the semi-finals.
The qualification of Nigeria and Ghana is a significant development for African women's football, as the two teams continue to represent the continent at the global youth tournament.
Nigeria's Flamingos have attracted attention following their victory over Mexico, with supporters hoping the team can build on the result and progress further in Morocco.
Their performance against Mexico has given the players renewed confidence ahead of the quarter-final encounter, although they will need to remain focused against the remaining contenders.
Ghana will equally hope to carry the momentum from their victory over Argentina into the next round.
The Black Maidens' ability to overcome Argentina under pressure could prove valuable as they prepare for another difficult test in the tournament.
With both teams now among the final eight, attention will shift to their respective quarter-final fixtures, which are scheduled to begin this weekend at different venues across Morocco.
The quarter-finals will determine the four countries that advance to the semi-final stage, bringing the participating teams closer to the championship.
For Africa, the presence of Nigeria and Ghana provides an opportunity for the continent to make a strong impression in the competition.
Both nations will be eager to avoid elimination and continue their respective campaigns as they pursue the ultimate prize.
Nigeria will rely on the confidence gained from its 2-1 victory over Mexico, while Ghana will draw encouragement from its hard-fought penalty shoot-out success against Argentina.
However, the teams will need to deliver further impressive performances to overcome the challenges posed by their next opponents.
As the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup progresses, African football fans will be watching closely to see whether Nigeria and Ghana can secure places in the semi-finals.
For now, both countries have achieved their immediate objective of reaching the quarter-finals and will be looking to extend their impressive runs in Morocco.