Nigeria’s Flamingos have won the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, beating Japan 2-1 in the final in Rabat, Morocco, on Saturday, 7 November, to become the first African team ever to lift the trophy — and the first African women’s national team to win a FIFA world title at any age level.
Goals from Awawu Bashiru and Oluebube Umejiaku delivered the historic victory at Pitch 3 of the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat. Bashiru broke the deadlock in the 39th minute with a shot from outside the box that slipped through the hands of Japan goalkeeper Kou Kadowaki. Two minutes into the second half, in the 47th minute, Umejiaku ran onto a long pass from Esther Stephen, controlled it with her left foot and lifted the ball over Kadowaki to make it 2-0.
Japan, who won the competition in 2014 and started the final as favourites, refused to surrender. Fuki Ito pulled one back in the 80th minute, setting up a tense final stretch — but Nigeria held on, and the final whistle confirmed the Flamingos as world champions. FIFA’s official match record lists the fixture as Japan 1-2 Nigeria, and Umejiaku was named Player of the Match, taking the Golden Ball as the tournament’s outstanding player.
A comeback from an opening defeat
The triumph completes a remarkable recovery for the Flamingos, coached by Akeem Busari. Nigeria lost their opening group match 2-1 to Poland, then won six consecutive games — beating Puerto Rico, then defeating holders Korea DPR 3-1 to qualify as group runners-up — on their way to the final. The title improves on the bronze medal Nigeria won at the 2022 edition in India, previously the Flamingos’ best finish at the tournament.
Nigeria also became the first country to win the U-17 World Cup for both men and women, adding the women’s crown to the five titles the Golden Eaglets have won at boys’ level. President Bola Tinubu congratulated the team after the final, and the Nigeria Football Federation said the win makes the Flamingos the first African team to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and the first African women’s national team to win a FIFA World Cup trophy.
A first for African football
The 2026 edition was the 10th staging of the Under-17 Women’s World Cup, which began in 2008, and no African side had ever reached the final before this year. Japan’s Little Nadeshiko had been among the favourites throughout, but Nigeria’s pace and direct attacking play undid them in Rabat, and the two-goal lead built in the first minutes of each half proved enough.
For Nigerian football, the win lands in a week when the country’s politics have been dominated by a power crisis and a bitter Rivers State feud — and it gives the country a moment of uncomplicated celebration. The Flamingos return home as world champions, and as the team that broke new ground for African women’s football.
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