Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, etched their names into football history on Saturday night, November 7, 2026, by defeating Japan 2-1 at Pitch 3 of the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat to capture their first-ever FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup title.
The historic victory marks the first time an African nation has claimed the prestigious global crown in the competition’s history.
The high-stakes final kicked off at 7:30 PM WAT before an energetic crowd. After a tightly contested opening phase, Nigeria broke the deadlock in the 39th minute when Awawu Bashiru collected a pass from Mary Dunstan and unleashed a stunning long-range strike past the Japanese goalkeeper.
The Flamingos doubled their advantage just two minutes into the second half, as Oluebube Umejiaku finished off a swift sequence orchestrated by Esther Stephen in the 47th minute to make it 2-0.
Although Japan mounted a late rally and pulled a goal back through Fuki Ito in the 80th minute following a setup by Anri Ito, the Nigerian defense held firm through five tense minutes of stoppage time to seal the 2-1 victory.
Reflecting on the monumental win, Flamingos head coach Akeem Busari praised his squad’s unwavering spirit, describing the achievement as an awesome moment for Nigerian football where the players showed immense character and bravery under pressure.
Echoing the sentiment, Nigeria Football Federation President Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau hailed the title as a defining milestone for women’s football across Africa, commending the team’s extraordinary determination and discipline on the world stage.
