Awawu Bashiru and Oluebube Umejiaku scored either side of half time, and a late reply from Japan’s Fuki Ito was not enough as Akeem Busari’s side became Africa’s first U-17 Women’s World Cup champions.
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Nigeria’s Flamingos are world champions. They beat Japan 2-1 in the final of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat, Morocco, on Saturday night, November 7.
The victory makes Nigeria the first African team ever to win the tournament, which began in 2008. It also makes Nigeria the first African country to win the U-17 World Cup in both the men’s and women’s categories, as the Golden Eaglets have lifted the boys’ trophy before.
Bashiru put the Flamingos ahead in the 39th minute, with Mary Dunstan providing the assist. The midfielder’s dropping effort from distance slipped through the gloves of Japan goalkeeper Kou Kadowaki, and Nigeria went in at half time with a 1-0 lead.
Umejiaku doubled the advantage just two minutes after the restart. Esther Stephen set her up, and the forward calmly chipped the ball over the advancing Kadowaki in the 47th minute.
Japan pushed hard for a way back, and Fuki Ito pulled one back late on to set up a tense finish. Kanyinsola Yusuf was booked in the 83rd minute, and Mashiro Yamaji had a late effort for Japan, but Nigeria held firm through five minutes of added time.
Fans who follow Nigeria’s champions can check this Bet9ja promotion for Nigerian football celebrations while they enjoy the moment.
From Opening Loss To World Champions
This was a remarkable turnaround. The Flamingos lost their opening group game 2-1 to Poland on October 17, then won six matches in a row. They beat Puerto Rico 2-0, Korea DPR 3-1, Mexico 2-1, Venezuela 1-0, Brazil 3-1 and finally Japan 2-1.
Before travelling to Morocco, the team also won the WAFU-B U-17 Girls Cup in Côte d’Ivoire, with five victories from five matches. They scored 17 goals in that tournament and conceded only one.
Bashiru’s strike was her third goal of the World Cup, and she was also the Player of the Match in the semi-final win over Brazil. Umejiaku and Oluwakemi Adegbuyi finished as the team’s leading scorers, and new Bet9ja users can look at Bet9ja’s YOHAIG champions offer as they celebrate.
Busari’s Moment
Head coach Akeem Busari has led a squad that never stopped believing, even after the heavy start against Poland. President Bola Tinubu had urged the players before the final to go for gold, and they delivered.
Japan, the 2014 champions, finish with the silver medal. They were bronze medallists at the last tournament and reached the final by beating defending champions North Korea on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
The triumph is a landmark for African women’s football. No African side had ever reached a final at this level before the Flamingos beat Brazil 3-1 in the semi final, and now they have gone one step further than anyone.
The players will return home as heroes, and the celebrations in Nigeria are likely to continue for days. Fans who like to learn how bonuses work can read the Bet9ja bonus conversion basics while they follow the homecoming.
For now, one fact sums it all up: the Flamingos are the champions of the world.
📌 Did You Know?
- Japan won the U-17 Women’s World Cup in 2014 and finished third in the previous edition before taking silver this time.
- Bashiru’s goal in the final was her third of the tournament.
- The Flamingos scored 17 goals and conceded one in five matches at the WAFU-B U-17 Girls Cup in Côte d’Ivoire.
- The 2026 final was played at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat.
- Nigeria is the first African country to win the U-17 World Cup in both the men’s and women’s categories.
