2026 U-17 WWC: Puerto Rico Coach Mirabelli Laments Defeat To Flamingos

Puerto Rico U-17 women’s head coach Andres Mirabelli has expressed disappointment with his team’s performance following their 2-0 defeat to Nigeria’s Flamingos at the ongoing 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.

The defeat marked Puerto Rico’s second consecutive loss in the tournament, having suffered a heavy 6-0 defeat to defending champions DPR Korea in their opening match.

First-half strike from Oluwakemi Adegbuyi and an injury-time goal by Precious Oscar secured maximum points for Nigeria, leaving Puerto Rico still searching for their first points of the competition.

Read Also:2026 U-17 WWC: Flamingos Get Campaign Back On Track After 2-0 Win Over Puerto Rico

Mirabelli Rues Loss To Nigeria

Mirabelli admitted that his team struggled in the first half, lamenting their slow start and the challenges of competing at the highest level.

“I’m not happy with how we played in the first half. Once again, we wasted time, just like in the last match,” he told FIFA.

“It’s a shame because the pressure of the World Cup and the difference in level are hurting us. We played a good second half again, but it wasn’t enough to get at least one point.”

By Adeboye Amosu

Adeboye Amosu is a seasoned sports journalist and Senior Content Writer with extensive experience covering Nigerian football and international football. He specializes in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), provides insightful coverage, match reports, news, and analysis of the domestic game. Adeboye also follows the Super Eagles of Nigeria and Chelsea, bringing his knowledge of the teams, players, and competitions to his writing.