World Cup Triumph: How Akeem Busari Wrote History with the Flamingos in 7 Months

According to a report by The Punch on Sunday, November 8, 2026, the story of Akeem Ishola Busari is one of the rare fairy tales in football management that unfolds at such a rapid and spectacular pace.

After being given the reins of the U-17 women’s national team of Nigeria, the Flamingos, just seven months and five days ago, Busari has already left an indelible mark on the team’s history.

He turned bold ambitions into reality by leading the team to a stunning 2-1 triumph over Japan in the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup final in Rabat, Morocco, making Nigeria the first African nation to win the prestigious global trophy.

This monumental achievement is the last product of a painstaking technical makeover that started on April 2, 2026, when the Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirmed his appointment to replace Bankole Olowookere.

Busari was the head coach of Ibadan’s Pacesetter Queens FC when he was chosen.

Busari entered the national assignment with a clear tactical vision and unwavering resolve, drawing from decades of professional grounding, including rigorous coaching qualifications obtained from the National Institute for Sports (NIS) in Lagos starting back in 1999.

Making it through the African qualifiers and onto the world stage was Busari’s immediate and daunting mandate.

He didn’t waste any time extending an invitation to 36 players in April, bringing together academy prospects with seasoned NWFL players (including some from his previous club) for a rigorous screening camp.

With an 8-5 aggregate win over the Amazons of Benin Republic in Lomé in July 2026, the Flamingos solidified their position as the dominant team and earned a trip to Morocco.

But the mental toughness of the squad was put to the test right from the start of the international tournament. Concerns were high following a nerve-wracking 2-1 loss to Poland in their first group match on October 17.

The tactical acumen of Busari, however, was evident. After losing to Puerto Rico 2-0, the Flamingos returned to form with clinical precision, shocking the defending champions North Korea 3-1.

With this unstoppable momentum, they advanced to the knockout stages, where they defeated Mexico 2-1, narrowly beat Venezuela 1-0, and stunned Brazil in the semi-finals with a 3-1 performance.

The Flamingos played their best game at Rabat’s Mohammed VI Football Complex on November 7, 2026.

After Busari made some adjustments to his strategy, Nigeria seized control. Awawu Bashiru, who was starting, paid off his coach’s faith with a spectacular long-range opener in the 39th minute.

Oluebube Umejiaku added a second goal shortly after halftime with a spectacular overhead strike that beat the Japanese goalkeeper.

Despite a late goal from Japan in the 80th minute, the 2-1 victory was sealed by the heroic defense of the Nigerian girls. While Busari rejoiced in a historic turning point for African football on the world arena, Umejiaku justifiably took home the trophy as Tournament MVP.

“This is a turnaround for Africa… We are sending a signal, a message to the world that Africa is really coming.” Busari, clearly moved by the momentous occasion, reflected on the historic milestone.

Coach Akeem Busari and the golden Flamingos have brought an enduring source of national pride to Nigerian football by surpassing previous bronze medal accomplishments and reaching the pinnacle of youth football.

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