# Nigeria Wins Historic First FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Title The Flamingos defeated Japan 2-1 in Morocco to secure Africa's first-ever global youth trophy. - **Source:** [Premium Times Nigeria](https://www.premiumtimesng.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-07 - **Topic:** [sports](https://brifing.si/c/sports) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/ec70bd21-2ce8-4234-b827-892a77e34b47 ## Historic Victory in Morocco Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, secured their first-ever FIFA World Cup title by defeating Japan 2-1. The final took place at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat, Morocco. This landmark achievement marks the first time an African nation has claimed the prestigious U-17 Women’s World Cup trophy. ## Decisive Goals Secure Lead Midfielder Awawu Bashiru opened the scoring in the 39th minute after a long-range effort slipped through the Japanese goalkeeper's hands. Shortly after halftime, in the 47th minute, Oluebube Umejiaku doubled the lead. These two goals provided the necessary cushion for Nigeria to withstand a late offensive surge from the Japanese side. ## Resilient Defensive Performance Japan, the 2014 champions, mounted a late challenge by scoring in the 80th minute through Fuki Ito. Despite four minutes of added time and intense pressure from the Asian side, the Nigerian defense remained disciplined. Coach Akeem Busari’s squad successfully protected their narrow lead until the final whistle confirmed their historic win. ## Remarkable Tournament Turnaround The Flamingos' path to glory was not straightforward, as they began their campaign with a 2-1 loss to Poland. The team showed immense resilience by winning subsequent group matches against Puerto Rico and Korea DPR. They continued their momentum by eliminating Mexico, Venezuela, and Brazil before reaching the final against Japan. ## Building on Previous Success This championship victory represents a significant improvement over Nigeria's previous best performance in the tournament. In the 2022 edition held in India, the Flamingos finished in third place. By winning the title in Morocco, the current squad has surpassed all historical benchmarks for Nigerian youth football on the global stage. ## Japan's Continued Competitive Presence Japan remains a dominant force in youth football, having reached their fourth final in this competition. Despite their loss on Saturday, they maintain a strong record, including their 2014 title and runner-up finishes in 2010 and 2016. The match highlighted the high tactical level maintained by both nations throughout the tournament. ## High-Level Official Presence The significance of the event was underscored by the presence of top football leadership in the stands. FIFA President Gianni Infantino and CAF President Patrice Motsepe attended the match to witness the historic final. Their presence reflects the growing global importance and investment in the development of women’s football across Africa. ## Impact on African Football This victory serves as a major milestone for the development of women's football across the African continent. By breaking the long-standing wait for a U-17 World Cup title, Nigeria has set a new standard for future generations. The win confirms the rising competitiveness of African teams in international youth football tournaments. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.premiumtimesng.com/sports/football/923597-just-in-flamingos-make-history-beat-japan-to-win-nigerias-first-u-17-womens-world-cup-title.html — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._