Nigeria's under-17 women's team, the Flamingos, have made history by winning the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. They beat Japan 2-1 in the final in Rabat, Morocco, on Saturday, 7 November 2026, becoming the first African team ever to win the tournament.
The Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, the city that hosted the final (file photo). Photo: Reda benkhadra / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Competition: FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup 2026, Morocco
- Final: Nigeria 2-1 Japan, Saturday 7 November 2026
- Venue: Mohammed VI Football Complex, Rabat
- Nigeria scorers: Awawu Bashiru (39'), Oluebube Umejiaku (47')
- Japan scorer: Fuki Ito (80')
- History: first African team to win the U-17 Women's World Cup
How the final was won
Nigeria took the lead in the 39th minute when Awawu Bashiru's long-range shot deflected off the hands of Japan's goalkeeper and into the net. Oluebube Umejiaku doubled the lead two minutes after half-time.
Japan, one of the strongest teams in women's youth football, pulled one back through Fuki Ito in the 80th minute, setting up a tense finish. A late Japanese corner hit the crossbar, but the Flamingos held on to win 2-1.
FIFA congratulated Nigeria on its official X account, saying the Flamingos "claimed their maiden title after beating Japan 2-1 in Rabat."
From an opening defeat to world champions
The Flamingos' campaign started badly, with a 2-1 defeat to Poland in their first group match. They then won every game that followed, including a victory over defending champions North Korea in the group stage and a 3-1 win over Brazil in the semi-final.
A night of records for African football
- Nigeria are the first African country to win the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.
- According to Afrik-Foot, the Flamingos are the first African women's team to win a FIFA World Cup at any level.
- Nigeria's men have won the U-17 World Cup five times (1985, 1993, 2007, 2013 and 2015). With this title, Nigeria becomes the first African country to win both the men's and women's U-17 World Cups.
Afrik-Foot also reports that Oluebube Umejiaku was named the tournament's best player, winning the Golden Ball. Faddabah Newsroom will confirm this once FIFA publishes its official awards list.
What it means for women's football in Africa
The win is a major boost for girls' football across the continent. It shows that, with investment in youth teams, African sides can beat the best in the world, and it gives young players from Lagos to Nairobi new role models.
Sources
- Vanguard: Flamingos beat Japan 2-1 to win first U-17 Women's World Cup
- Legit.ng: FIFA sends message to Flamingos
- Afrik-Foot: 5 records Nigeria broke at the 2026 U-17 World Cup
- Channels TV: Flamingos win historic first U-17 Women's World Cup title
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