Nigeria Flamingos Claim Historic First U17 Womens World Cup Title After Defeating Japan

According to reports by Punch Newspapers and Channels Television on Saturday, November 7, 2026, Nigeria’s under-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, defeated Japan 2-1 in the final of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2026 to become the first African nation to win the tournament.

The match was played at the Mohammed VI Football Complex, Pitch 3, in Rabat. Awawu Bashiru opened the scoring in the 39th minute with a long-range effort that slipped through the hands of Japan goalkeeper Kou Kadowaki. Oluebube Umejiaku doubled the lead just two minutes into the second half, controlling a through ball from Esther Stephen before chipping the goalkeeper in the 47th minute. Japan pulled one back through Fuki Ito in the 80th minute from a corner, but the Flamingos defended resolutely to secure the victory.

Head coach Akeem Busari’s side made history in multiple ways. They became the first African team to lift the trophy since the competition began in 2008 and the first African country to win the FIFA U-17 World Cup in both the men’s and women’s categories. The Golden Eaglets have previously claimed the men’s title on five occasions. The Flamingos also became the first team in the tournament’s history to lose their opening match and still win the title, recovering from a 2-1 group-stage defeat to Poland before winning six consecutive matches. Their path included victories over Puerto Rico, defending champions North Korea, Mexico, Venezuela, and a 3-1 semi-final win against Brazil.

Oluebube Umejiaku, who scored in the final, was later named the tournament’s best player, receiving the Golden Ball award after contributing three goals and two assists across the competition. The triumph has been widely celebrated at home. President Bola Tinubu congratulated the team, the coaching crew, the Nigeria Football Federation, and the National Sports Commission, while First Lady Oluremi Tinubu was reported to have watched and cheered the match from her residence. The National Sports Commission described the result as a defining moment for Nigerian and African women’s football and reaffirmed commitment to grassroots development.

The achievement underscores the growing strength of Nigeria’s youth women’s programme and delivers a landmark continental milestone at the highest level of under-17 competition.

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