* Become first African to win the competitors
Kunle Adewale
Nigeria’s under-17 girls’s nationwide workforce, the Flamingos, etched their names into soccer historical past Saturday, defeating former champions Japan 2–1 on the Mohammed VI Football Complex to elevate the 2026 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup.
With the victory, Nigeria turns into the primary African nation to win the match since its inception in 2008.
Led by head coach Akeem Busari, the Flamingos entered the showpiece having already damaged floor as the primary African aspect to succeed in the ultimate, surpassing their earlier greatest end of a bronze medal in 2022.
After a fiercely contested opening half-hour towards a disciplined Japanese aspect making their fourth closing look, Nigeria broke the impasse within the thirty ninth minute.
Midfielder Awawu Bashiru—who had starred with a brace within the semi-final towards Brazil—unleashed a long-range strike that slipped previous Japanese goalkeeper Kou Kadowaki to present the Flamingos a 1–0 lead on the break.
Nigeria wasted no time doubling their benefit after the restart. Just two minutes into the second half, ahead Oluebube Umejiaku latched onto a via ball and lifted a composed end over the onrushing Kadowaki within the forty seventh minute to make it 2–0.
Desperate to reclaim a title they final received in 2014, Japan responded with a triple substitution and mounted heavy late strain.
The Young Nadeshiko finally pulled a aim again within the eightieth minute via organising a tense end in entrance of a crowd that included FIFA President Gianni Infantino and CAF President Patrice Motsepe.
Despite Japan’s late surge, Nigeria’s backline—marshalled by goalkeeper Sylvia Ijirigho and defender Omowunmi Sunday—held agency via stoppage time to seal an unforgettable triumph for Nigerian and African girls’s soccer.
