Queen Joseph: A Statistical Standout at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2026

Nigeria’s Queen Joseph was one of the standout individual performers at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2026, finishing among the tournament’s top five players in eight different statistical categories.

While the Flamingos attracted attention for their collective performance on the way to winning the competition, Queen’s individual numbers revealed the extent of her contribution across different aspects of the game.

The Nigerian forward topped the entire tournament in four categories: fouls won, defensive pressures applied, sprints and receptions under pressure. She also finished second in total distance covered, third in high-speed running and receptions in behind, and fourth in crosses.

Her rankings highlight a player who contributed not only to Nigeria’s attacking play but also to the team’s defensive work, physical output and ability to maintain possession under pressure.

Four Tournament-Leading Performances

Queen Joseph finished as the tournament leader in four individual statistical categories.

1. Fouls Won (Most Fouled Players)

Queen Joseph (Nigeria) – 14 (1st)

Queen was the most fouled player at the tournament, winning 14 fouls. Her ranking reflects the difficulty opponents faced when trying to contain her attacking threat.

2. Defensive Pressures Applied

Queen Joseph (Nigeria) – 213 (1st)

She also topped the defensive pressure rankings with 213, ahead of Mary Dunstan, who finished second with 194. This highlights her contribution to Nigeria’s pressing game and efforts to disrupt opposition possession.

3. Sprints

Queen Joseph (Nigeria) – 349 (1st)

Her physical output was particularly evident in the sprint statistics. Queen recorded 349 sprints, finishing 90 ahead of DPR Korea’s Ri Ui Gyong, who ranked second with 259.

4. Receptions Under Pressure

Queen Joseph (Nigeria) – 239 (1st)

Queen also led the tournament in receptions under pressure with 239. This statistic highlights how frequently she received the ball while under pressure from opponents.

Four More Top-Five Rankings

Beyond her four tournament-leading performances, Queen also featured prominently in four other statistical categories.

5. Total Distance Covered

Queen Joseph (Nigeria) – 70,983.3m (2nd)

Only DPR Korea’s Eh Chong Gum, who covered 73,011.9 metres, recorded a higher distance than Queen. Her total of 70,983.3 metres placed her second overall.

6. High-Speed Running

Queen Joseph (Nigeria) – 1,275 (3rd)

Queen ranked third in high-speed running, behind Japan’s Fuki Ito (1,343) and DPR Korea’s Ri Kyong Im (1,335).

7. Receptions In Behind

Queen Joseph (Nigeria) – 24 (3rd)

She finished third in receptions in behind, a category that reflects players’ involvement in receiving passes beyond the opposition defensive line.

8. Crosses

Queen Joseph (Nigeria) – 36 (4th)

Queen also ranked fourth in crosses, recording 36 throughout the competition. Her presence in this category demonstrates another dimension of her attacking contribution, particularly in delivering balls into dangerous areas.

A Goal to Complete Her Campaign

Beyond the statistical achievements, Queen Joseph also got on the scoresheet during Nigeria’s semi-final encounter against Brazil.

She opened the scoring in the 56th minute of the match, with Oluwakemi Adegbuyi providing the assist, as the Flamingos secured a 3–1 victory to reach the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup final.

The goal added another milestone to an already impressive individual campaign.

A Remarkable All-Round Contribution

Queen Joseph’s tournament statistics tell the story of a player who made an impact in several areas of the game.

Her four first-place rankings, combined with her positions in distance covered, high-speed running, receptions in behind and crosses, demonstrate the breadth of her contribution to Nigeria’s campaign.

She was influential when Nigeria had possession, active when the team needed to press, and among the players who covered the most ground throughout the competition.

For the Flamingos, who went on to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2026, Queen’s performances were an important part of their successful campaign.

Eight statistical categories. Four tournament-leading performances. One outstanding campaign.

Queen Joseph is certainly a player worth watching.

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