Umejiaku Reacts After Winning Golden Ball And Helping Nigeria Make U-17 World Cup History

According to a report by Daily Post on Sunday, November 8, 2026, Nigeria forward Oluebube Umejiaku has expressed her happiness following the Flamingos’ historic triumph over Japan in the final of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

Nigeria defeated Japan’s Little Nadeshiko 2-1 to win the competition for the first time in the country’s history, completing an impressive campaign with victory in Saturday’s final.

The Flamingos also achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming the first team in the history of the tournament to recover from an opening-match defeat and eventually lift the trophy.

Umejiaku played an important role in Nigeria’s success, scoring the second goal against Japan after Awawu Bashiru had opened the scoring before half-time.

Her contribution helped the Nigerian youngsters establish a two-goal advantage, although Japan later reduced the deficit through Fuki Ito with 10 minutes remaining.

Nigeria held on to their lead until the final whistle, triggering celebrations among the players and coaching staff as they secured their maiden U-17 Women’s World Cup title.

Speaking after the historic victory, Umejiaku expressed satisfaction with the team’s achievement and thanked God for helping the players overcome the challenges they encountered during the competition.

The forward also credited the technical crew for their contribution, explaining that the instructions from the coaches helped the players maintain their confidence and remain focused despite the difficulties they faced.

Umejiaku acknowledged that the journey to becoming world champions was not easy but praised the team’s ability to follow the coaches’ guidance and approach each challenge with determination.

Her comments highlighted the importance of the coaching staff’s contribution to Nigeria’s successful campaign, particularly after the team suffered a defeat in their opening match.

Beyond scoring in the final, Umejiaku enjoyed an outstanding tournament, finishing with four goals and two assists in seven appearances for the Flamingos.

Her impressive performances earned her the Golden Ball award, recognising her as the best player of the competition.

She also received the Player of the Match award following Nigeria’s victory over Japan, making her one of the standout performers in the final.

The Golden Ball recognition further underlined Umejiaku’s importance to the Nigerian team throughout the tournament, as she played a significant role in their journey to becoming world champions.

Nigeria’s historic achievement in Morocco has given the Flamingos their first title in the competition.

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