Flamingos Beat Japan to Win Historic U-17 World Cup

By Ibrahim Kegbegbe

Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, have made history by defeating Japan 2-1 to win the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.

The Nigerian youngsters secured the historic victory on Saturday at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat, becoming the first African nation to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup since the competition was established.

The Flamingos produced an impressive performance against their Japanese opponents, with goals from Awawu Bashiru and Oluebube Umejiaku securing Nigeria’s maiden title in the competition.

Bashiru opened the scoring in the 39th minute, giving Nigeria the advantage after a determined first-half display. The midfielder’s effort put the Flamingos ahead as they continued to press for more goals.

Nigeria doubled their advantage just two minutes into the second half when Umejiaku found the back of the net in the 47th minute with a well-executed finish, putting the Nigerian side in a commanding position.

Japan, however, refused to surrender and intensified their efforts to get back into the contest. Their determination paid off in the 80th minute when Fuki Ito scored to reduce the deficit to 2-1.

Despite Japan’s late attempts to find an equaliser, the Flamingos remained resolute and successfully protected their lead until the final whistle, triggering celebrations among the Nigerian players and their supporters.

The triumph represents a major milestone for Nigerian football, as the Flamingos have not only secured their first-ever FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup trophy but also made Nigeria the first African country to win the competition.

The achievement is particularly remarkable considering that Nigeria had never reached the final of the tournament before this year’s edition. Their previous best performance was a third-place finish.

The Flamingos’ journey to the championship was also characterised by resilience. After suffering a 2-1 defeat to Poland in their opening group match, the Nigerian team recovered strongly, recording victories over their subsequent opponents to progress through the knockout stages.

Their impressive campaign included a victory over defending champions North Korea, before defeating Brazil 3-1 in the semi-final to secure their first-ever appearance in the final.

By overcoming Japan, the Flamingos have completed a remarkable turnaround and established themselves as champions of the world at the youth level.

The Merit Newspaper reports that the victory also makes Nigeria the first African country to win the FIFA U-17 World Cup in both the men’s and women’s categories, adding another historic achievement to the country’s rich football heritage.

The Flamingos’ success is a significant boost for women’s football in Nigeria and across Africa, demonstrating the growing talent, determination and competitive strength of young female footballers on the continent.

Nigeria can now celebrate a new generation of champions whose outstanding achievement has brought pride to the country and written a memorable chapter in African football history.
Nigeria are world champions!