The victory at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat, Morocco, lifted Nigeria to second place in the group with six points from three matches, while North Korea topped the standings despite the defeat.
Poland also progressed to the knockout stage after thrashing Puerto Rico 6-2 to finish third in the group.
The Flamingos delivered a disciplined performance, combining defensive resilience with clinical finishing to overcome a North Korean side that had won its opening two matches convincingly.
Oluwakemi Adegbuyi opened the scoring in the 15th minute with an impressive solo effort to give Nigeria an early advantage.
Oluebube Umejiaku extended the lead three minutes before half-time, converting a through ball from Tosin Rafiu before beating the advancing North Korean goalkeeper.
Nigeria continued their impressive display after the break, with Kanyisola Yusuf scoring the third goal to put the game firmly beyond the defending champions’ reach.
North Korea eventually reduced the deficit in the 82nd minute when Yu Jong-Hyang converted a penalty awarded after a Nigerian defender handled the ball inside the area.
The result marked a significant response from Nigeria following their 2-1 opening defeat to Poland.
The Flamingos bounced back in their second group match with a 2-0 victory over Puerto Rico. Adegbuyi scored in the 25th minute before substitute Precious Oscar sealed the win with a late header from Adegbuyi’s cross.
North Korea had entered the decisive encounter in formidable form, having beaten Puerto Rico 6-0 and Poland 6-1 in their first two matches.
However, Nigeria’s victory demonstrated their ability to compete against the tournament’s strongest sides as they advanced to the knockout rounds.
The Flamingos, who won bronze at the 2022 edition of the competition, will now turn their attention to the round of 16 as they seek another memorable run on the global stage.
