Busari relishes Flamingos’ World Cup triumph

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Head coach Hakeem Busari has praised the character and fighting spirit of Nigeria’s Flamingos following their historic triumph at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, where they defeated Japan 2-1 in Saturday’s final in Morocco.

Nigeria became the first African nation to win the women’s age-grade competition, capping a remarkable campaign in which they recovered from an opening 2-1 defeat to Poland to win their remaining six matches.

Speaking after the final, Busari said the players’ collective commitment and determination were central to their success, adding that they had embraced the challenge as a team.

“We came together to fight this battle like gladiators. I told the players that if we gave everything, we would smile at the end,” he said.

The coach also highlighted the importance of character, mentality and merit in his team selection, explaining that talent alone was not enough to guarantee a place in the starting line-up.

“No matter how good you are, I’m a coach who plays on character. It’s all about mindset, attitude, and merit; if they’re there, you get your playing time. If they’re not there, you’re waiting to come in. As a coach, we want everyone to wire up and play together,” Busari said.

His approach was reflected in the contributions of players who had initially played limited roles but stepped up at crucial moments. Awawu Bashiru, who had not started Nigeria’s earlier matches, scored twice in the 3-1 semi-final victory over Brazil before opening the scoring against Japan.

Oluebube Umejiaku then netted the decisive goal in the final and went on to claim the tournament’s Golden Ball award as its outstanding player.

Nigeria’s triumph also made them the first team in the competition’s history to lose their opening match and go on to win the title.

Busari described the achievement as a significant moment for African football, expressing hope that it would inspire greater belief in the continent’s ability to compete at the highest level.

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