They lost their first match of the tournament. On Saturday, they lifted the trophy.
Nigeria’s Flamingos are champions of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup for the first time, after defeating Japan 2-1 in the final at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Morocco.
It is a triumph that rewrites the record books — and one that began, improbably, with a setback.
The Goals That Made History
Awau Bashiru broke the deadlock in the 39th minute with what looked, at first, like a speculative effort from the edge of the box. It slipped past the Japanese goalkeeper and into the net, and Nigeria had lift-off.
Two minutes into the second half, Olubebe Umejiaku doubled the advantage with a finish of real composure, putting daylight between the Flamingos and their opponents.
Japan responded through Fuki Ito, who pulled one back from a corner kick. But Nigeria held firm, and when the final whistle came, the title was theirs.
The Team That Refused to Stay Down
What makes this triumph remarkable is the road taken to reach it.
Akeem Busari’s side became the first team ever to win this competition after losing their opening match. They regrouped, then went through Korea DPR and Brazil to reach the final.
In doing so, they handed Japan a third defeat in a U-17 Women’s World Cup final — a statistic that underlines how often the Japanese have come up short at this stage.
Beyond Bronze
The victory is also a step up for Nigeria’s women’s youth programme. The Flamingos previously finished with bronze at the 2022 edition.
Did You Miss? Doris Ogala Granted ₦30m Bail in Cyberstalking Case
This time, there was no settling for third. There was only gold — and a place in the history of a tournament Nigeria had never won.
For a country that has long invested hope in its female footballers, Saturday in Morocco delivered something more than a result. It delivered proof.