‘Nigeria Were a Very Strong Team’ – Japan Coach Reveals What Made Flamingos So Difficult to Stop

According to a report by Daily Post on Sunday November 08, 2026, Japan’s U-17 women’s team coach, Sadayoshi Shirai, has praised his players for their resilience and commitment despite their 2-1 loss to Nigeria in the final of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

The Little Nadeshiko were beaten by the Flamingos at Mohammed VI Football Complex Pitch 3 in Rabat on Saturday night, as Nigeria secured their first-ever championship in the tournament.

Japan began the final with an encouraging display but gradually struggled against Nigeria’s pace, physical presence and attacking pressure. The Flamingos took advantage of their strengths to establish control and move closer to the title.

Goals from Awawu Bashiru and Oluebube Umejiaku gave Nigeria a commanding advantage, leaving Japan with a difficult task in the closing stages.

The Japanese side responded through Fuki Ito, who scored with 10 minutes left to play, raising hopes of a late comeback. However, Nigeria maintained their lead until the final whistle to secure a historic triumph.

Reacting after the encounter, Shirai admitted that his team faced a formidable opponent but insisted that their performance deserved recognition.

“First of all, I have to say that Nigeria were a very strong team. We understood their strengths, but there were moments when they managed to get in behind our defence,” he told FIFA.

The Japanese coach also commended his players for refusing to give up despite the challenges posed by the Nigerian team.

“Even so, I think our players fought incredibly hard until the very end, doing everything they could to cope with Nigeria’s speed and physical power,” Shirai added.

Nigeria’s victory marked a landmark achievement for the Flamingos, who lifted the U-17 Women’s World Cup trophy for the first time in the country’s history.

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