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Nigeria’s victorious U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, arrived in Abuja on Monday morning after winning the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
The young champions landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport with the trophy following their 2-1 victory over Japan in Saturday’s final in Rabat.
Their triumph marked Nigeria’s first title in the competition. It also made the Flamingos the first African team to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
Supporters welcomed the players and officials with celebrations as they returned home from Morocco. The team had received a special reception before its departure, hosted by National Sports Commission Chairman Shehu Dikko and Director General Bukola Olopade.
The Flamingos secured the historic title after producing a determined performance against Japan in the final. Awawu Bashiru opened the scoring for Nigeria in the 39th minute, while Oluebube Umejiaku extended the advantage in the second half.
Japan reduced the deficit through Fuki Ito in the 80th minute. However, Nigeria defended its lead until the final whistle to secure the championship.
The victory completed an impressive campaign for head coach Hakeem Busari and his players. Nigeria recovered from an opening defeat to Poland before progressing through the knockout rounds and overcoming several strong opponents.
The Flamingos also defeated Brazil 3-1 in the semi-final to reach their first-ever final in the competition.
Busari praised his players for their determination, tactical discipline and ability to handle pressure throughout the tournament. He described the achievement as evidence of the progress in African women’s youth football.
Reflecting on the final, the coach explained that his technical team had identified Japan’s strength in winning second balls and exploiting spaces behind defensive lines. The Nigerian team adjusted its approach to limit those opportunities.
He said the players showed discipline and collective commitment after taking the lead. He also rejected the suggestion that the victory was accidental, pointing to the team’s development, character and preparation.
The team’s success in Morocco followed another impressive performance at the 2026 WAFU-B U-17 Girls Cup in Côte d’Ivoire. The Flamingos won all five matches at the regional competition, scoring 17 goals and conceding only once.
That performance gave the team momentum before the FIFA tournament. Although Nigeria lost its opening match against Poland, the players recovered and produced a strong run to reach the final.
President Bola Tinubu congratulated the team following its historic victory. He described the achievement as a proud moment for Nigeria and a landmark for African women’s football.
Tinubu praised the players for their courage, discipline and determination. He also commended the coaching crew, the Nigeria Football Federation and the National Sports Commission for their contributions.
The President singled out Bashiru and Umejiaku for scoring the goals that secured the trophy. He said their achievement would inspire young Nigerian girls who hope to pursue careers in sports.
Tinubu also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to grassroots sports development and creating more opportunities for young athletes.
The Flamingos’ return to Abuja marks the end of a successful international campaign. Their historic achievement has given Nigeria its first FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup title and made the country the first African nation to win the competition.
