Flamingos Make History, Beat Japan 2-1 to Win First-Ever FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup

Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, have emerged champions of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup after defeating Japan 2-1 in Saturday’s final in Rabat, Morocco.

The victory marks a historic achievement for Nigerian football, as the Flamingos become the first African nation to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

The thrilling final was played at the Mohammed VI Football Complex, where the Nigerian youngsters overcame a determined Japanese side to secure their first title in the competition.
Nigeria’s journey to the championship was characterised by resilience and determination.

The team began their campaign with a 2-1 loss to Poland in the group stage but quickly recovered with impressive victories over Puerto Rico and defending champions North Korea.

The Flamingos continued their impressive run in the knockout stages, defeating Mexico in the round of 16 and Venezuela in the quarter-finals to book a place in the semi-finals.
They subsequently delivered an outstanding performance against Brazil, securing a 3-1 victory to reach their first-ever final.

Queen Joseph opened the scoring against Brazil, while Awawu Bashiru scored twice to seal Nigeria’s passage into the final.
Japan reached the final after defeating North Korea in a dramatic semi-final decided by a penalty shootout. The Japanese team had been targeting their second title, having previously won the competition in 2014.

However, the Nigerian girls proved stronger in the final, ending Japan’s title ambitions and creating a new chapter in African women’s football.
The historic triumph is a significant boost for Nigerian football and highlights the growing strength and potential of the country’s female youth teams.