Nigeria’s U-17 national women’s football team, the Flamingos, made history on Saturday, November 7, 2026, by defeating Japan 2-1 in the final of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat, Morocco. The triumph marks the first time an African country has claimed the U-17 Women’s World Cup title, completing a historic rise from their bronze-medal performance in India in 2022.
Nigeria’s journey to global glory was built on attacking efficiency and defensive resilience throughout the tournament. During the continental qualifiers, the Flamingos stamped their authority with an 8-5 aggregate victory over Benin Republic in the final qualification round. Once in Morocco, they opened their Group B campaign with a 2-0 win against Puerto Rico, followed by a statement 3-1 victory over defending champions North Korea to comfortably secure top spot in their group.
In the knockout stages, the Flamingos displayed remarkable tactical discipline and composure. They defeated Mexico 2-1 in the Round of 16 before earning a hard-fought 1-0 win against Venezuela in the quarter-finals. In the semi-final clash against South American giant Brazil, midfielder Awawu Bashiru delivered a stellar performance to propel Nigeria into their first-ever World Cup final with an emphatic 3-1 victory.
The final against 2014 champions Japan delivered high drama in Rabat. Awawu Bashiru broke the deadlock in the 39th minute with a long-range strike that beat Japanese goalkeeper Kou Kadowaki. Immediately after the interval, forward Oluebube Umejiaku doubled Nigeria’s advantage in the 47th minute, lifting a delicate finish over Kadowaki to make it 2-0.
Although Japan pulled a goal back through Fuki Ito in the 80th minute, goalkeeper Sylvia Ijirigho and the Nigerian backline held firm through stoppage time to secure the historic trophy.
