Flamingos make history, beat Japan 2-1 to win Nigeria's first U-17 Women's World Cup
Nigeria's Flamingos defeated Japan 2-1 in Saturday's final at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat, Morocco, becoming the first African nation to win the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. Awawu Bashiru opened scoring in the 39th minute before Oluebube Umejiaku doubled the lead shortly after halftime. Japan's Fuki Ito reduced the deficit in the 80th minute, but the Flamingos held on for a historic victory.
This is Nigeria's first title at the tournament, improving on their 2022 third-place finish. The Flamingos lost their opening match 2-1 to Poland but recovered to win six consecutive matches—the first team in competition history to lose their opener and still lift the trophy. They beat Puerto Rico 2-0, defending champions Korea DPR 3-1, Mexico 2-1, Venezuela, and Brazil 3-1 en route to the final. Umejiaku, who started as a substitute, won the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player after scoring against Poland, Korea DPR, Mexico, and in the final. Bashiru scored twice in the semi-final against Brazil before netting in the final.
The victory also makes Nigeria the first African country to hold both the men's and women's FIFA U-17 World Cup titles. Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy Hannatu Musawa called it "more than a trophy—a story of young Nigerian girls who refused to give up, who rose after defeat, and who carried the hopes of a continent to the top of the world." She reaffirmed the ministry's commitment to promoting young Nigerian achievers.
What does this breakthrough mean for investment in grassroots women's football across Nigeria?