Canada's under-17 women's team has lost co-captain Emma Reda to a fractured ulna from a training injury, just ahead of their Group D opener against Nigeria at the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Morocco. The 16-year-old midfielder was hurt during a slide tackle, and Ottawa's Felicia Hanisch has been called up as replacement. Coach Jen Herst remains confident in advancing from the group despite the blow.
The 2025 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup kicked off in Morocco, the first time the tournament is hosted on African soil. Nigeria's Flamingos face Canada in a key Group D match on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at the Mohammed VI Football Academy in Salé. This marks both teams' eighth appearance at the event, with Nigeria aiming to build on their third-place finish in 2022 and Canada seeking to surpass their best of fourth in 2018.
Canada's preparation hit a snag when co-captain Emma Reda, a 16-year-old from Woodbridge, Ontario, fractured her ulna after a slide tackle in training. "She's just gone in for a slide tackle — that's Emma Reda, classic — she was trying to win the ball back, as she always does," said coach Jen Herst. The team was already without injured players Reese Kay and Joelle Bader, and Kaylee Hunter was called up to the senior side by AFC Toronto. Defender Chloe Taylor and midfielder Olivia Chisholm remain as co-captains, with 15-year-old attacker Melyna Alexis highlighted as an exciting prospect: fast, technical, and left-footed.
Nigeria enters unbeaten in domestic friendlies and with recent results including a 3-2 win over Paraguay and a 4-3 loss to New Zealand. Led by coach Bankole Olowookere, the Flamingos feature captain Shakirat Moshood, who scored four goals at last year's U-20 World Cup, though star forward Chidi Harmony is sidelined by injury. The teams previously drew 1-1 in 2012.
Group D also includes France and newcomers Samoa, who qualified by reaching the OFC U-16 Women's Championship final. Herst anticipates a fast, physical challenge from Nigeria: "Very good in transition. Quite explosive players. They like to shoot from distance." She added, "I'm confident we can get out of the group," with the top two teams and four best third-placers advancing to the round of 16.
Canada qualified by topping their CONCACAF group unbeaten, scoring 10 goals from seven players including two each from Hunter, Chisholm, and Melisa Kekic. Nigeria advanced as African qualifiers, conceding just one goal while beating South Africa and Algeria.