Flamingos win historic U-17 World Cup title, beat Japan 2-1 in Rabat
Nigeria's Flamingos claimed their first-ever FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup title with a 2-1 victory over Japan at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat on Saturday night. Goals from Awawu Bashiru and Oluebube Umejiaku put Nigeria in command before Fuki Ito pulled one back for Japan with 10 minutes remaining.
The win marks a historic milestone for Nigerian women's football—the first world title at any FIFA youth women's tournament. Japan coach Sadayoshi Shirai acknowledged Nigeria's superior pace and physical strength but praised his players' fighting spirit until the final whistle.
Umejiaku's tournament excellence earned her the Golden Ball award as best player, capping a dominant campaign for the Flamingos. The victory also extends Nigeria's strong record in age-grade women's football, building on previous U-20 World Cup successes.
For a nation passionate about football, this breakthrough at the U-17 women's level signals growing depth in the women's game pipeline. The challenge now: translating this youth success into sustained senior team competitiveness on the global stage.