Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national football team, the Flamingos, have made history after defeating Japan 2-1 to win the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, claiming the country’s first title in the competition.
The final, played on Saturday at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat, saw Nigeria become the first African nation to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, capping a campaign marked by resilience and a strong finish.
Awawu Bashiru opened the scoring for the Flamingos in the 39th minute with a long-range effort that slipped through the hands of the Japanese goalkeeper.
Nigeria doubled their lead shortly after the restart, as Oluebube Umejiaku found the net in the 47th minute to put the team in a commanding position but Japan responded in the 80th minute through Fuki Ito, setting up a tense finish. However, the Flamingos held on to secure the victory and lift the trophy.
The triumph marks a landmark moment for Nigerian women’s football, with the Flamingos overcoming a difficult start to the tournament before emerging as champions.
Nigeria’s journey to the title was not without setbacks. The team began its campaign with a 2-1 defeat to Poland and followed it with a less convincing win over Puerto Rico.
The turning point came in their final group-stage match, when the Flamingos defeated defending champions and two-time winners North Korea 3-1 to advance as group runners-up.
They continued their momentum in the knockout rounds, beating Mexico 2-1 in the Round of 16 before edging Venezuela 1-0 in the quarter-finals.
In the semi-finals, Nigeria delivered one of its most impressive performances of the tournament, defeating Brazil 3-1. Queen Joseph opened the scoring in the 56th minute, while Awawu Bashiru scored twice in the 71st and 80th minutes to secure the Flamingos’ place in the final.
Nigeria had previously come close to winning the tournament, finishing third at the 2022 edition in India after defeating Germany in a penalty shootout.
The team’s appearance in the 2026 final was its first in the competition’s history, making Saturday’s victory an unprecedented achievement for the country and the African continent.
The Flamingos’ triumph also adds to Nigeria’s record in youth international football. The country’s U-17 men’s team, the Golden Eaglets, has won the FIFA U-17 World Cup five times, in 1985, 1993, 2007, 2013 and 2015.
With the Flamingos now crowned world champions, Nigeria has secured a historic double in the U-17 category, becoming the first African country to win the men’s and women’s FIFA U-17 World Cups.
