Nigeria’s Flamingos created history on Saturday by winning their inaugural FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup title, defeating Japan 2-1 in the final. This victory marks a significant milestone, as the Flamingos are the first African team to secure this championship.
The match saw the Flamingos take the lead in the 39th minute, with Awawu Bashiru scoring after receiving an assist from Mary Dunstan. Bashiru’s effort slipped through the hands of Japan’s goalkeeper, Kou Kadowaki, giving Nigeria a 1-0 advantage at halftime.
Just two minutes into the second half, Oluebube Umejiaku extended Nigeria’s lead to 2-0, capitalizing on a long pass from Esther Stephen. Umejiaku expertly controlled the ball and lifted it over the keeper to score.
Japan responded in the 80th minute with a goal from Fuki Ito, who converted a pass from Anri Ito, narrowing the score to 2-1. The closing moments of the match were tense, with Japan pressing for an equalizer while Nigeria aimed to defend their slim lead.
With this victory, the Flamingos concluded an impressive campaign, recovering from an initial 2-1 loss to Poland in their opening match. They went on to achieve five consecutive wins, including a significant 3-1 upset against defending champions North Korea, which ended North Korea’s 18-match unbeaten streak in the tournament.
The Flamingos continued their impressive run with a victory over Mexico in the Round of 16 and a narrow win against Venezuela in the quarter-finals. Their journey to the final was capped with a 3-1 triumph over Brazil in the semi-finals.
Nigeria’s head coach, Akeem Busari, highlighted the mental resilience and renewed confidence that helped transform the team’s attitude after their initial defeat. Team captain Harmony Chidi remarked that winning the trophy would be a moment to cherish forever.
Prior to this tournament, the Flamingos had already established themselves as a formidable side in Africa, winning the 2026 WAFU-B U-17 Girls Cup in Côte d’Ivoire, where they won all five matches and scored 17 goals while conceding only once.
