By The Merit Newspaper – Sports Desk
Rabat, Morocco – November 7, 2026
Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national football team, the Flamingos, will today take on Japan in the final of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, with an opportunity to make history by winning the country’s first-ever title in the competition.
The highly anticipated encounter presents Nigeria with a golden opportunity to become the first African nation to lift the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup trophy since the tournament was introduced in 2008.
The Flamingos booked their place in the final after producing an impressive 3-1 victory over Brazil in Wednesday’s semi-final, with Awawu Bashiru scoring twice and Queen Joseph adding another goal to secure Nigeria’s historic qualification.
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Under the guidance of head coach Akeem Busari, the Nigerian girls have demonstrated resilience, determination and attacking quality throughout the competition, overcoming several challenging opponents on their way to the final.
Their journey has included victories over Mexico, Venezuela and defending champions North Korea, alongside their memorable triumph over Brazil, which confirmed their status as serious contenders for the championship.
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However, Japan will present another formidable challenge. The Asian side secured their final ticket after overcoming North Korea in a dramatic semi-final encounter that ended 1-1 before Japan prevailed in the penalty shootout.
Japan, who previously won the competition in 2014, will be appearing in their fourth final, bringing considerable experience to Saturday’s decisive encounter.
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Nigeria’s historic achievement has attracted widespread recognition across the continent, with Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe congratulating the Flamingos for making Africa proud. Motsepe is also expected to attend the final in Rabat.
Beyond the trophy, victory would represent a significant milestone for Nigerian women’s football and further strengthen Africa’s growing presence on the global football stage.
With the nation eagerly anticipating the outcome, the Flamingos will be hoping to convert their historic qualification into a memorable championship triumph and bring the coveted trophy home to Nigeria.
