The Flamingos forward handed her Golden Ball tribute to the Anambra governor in Abuja, days after Nigeria became the first African nation to win the U-17 Women’s World Cup.
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Oluebube Umejiaku has dedicated her Player of the Tournament award from the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup to Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Charles Soludo. The Flamingos forward made the gesture on Monday night in Abuja, shortly after the squad landed from Morocco, as FootballInNigeria.com.ng reports.
“I’m dedicating this award to the governor of Anambra,” Umejiaku said, introducing herself as a proud daughter of Aguata. Anambra State Football Association chairman Chikelue Iloenyosi stood beside her when she spoke.
Aguata is also Soludo’s home local government, which gives the dedication a homecoming feel. Anambra’s Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Patrick Aghamba, had directed Iloenyosi to go to Abuja and receive the team. Umejiaku is now expected to present the award to the governor at Government House in Awka.
The Golden Ball caps a tournament she shaped from the start. Umejiaku finished with four goals and played a part in goals in all seven of Nigeria’s matches. She scored in the opening defeat to Poland, then found the net against DPR Korea and Mexico.
Her influence grew as the stakes rose. She won the penalty that Azeezat Oduntan converted in the 89th minute to beat Venezuela 1-0 in the quarter-finals. In the 3-1 semi final win over Brazil, her pass set up Awawu Bashiru’s second goal.
Nigeria beat Japan 2-1 in Rabat last Saturday, November 7, to win the tournament for the first time. Bashiru opened the scoring in the 39th minute and Umejiaku added the second. Fuki Ito pulled one back for Japan in the 80th minute, but the Flamingos held on.
No African country had won the U-17 Women’s World Cup before this one. Coach Akeem Busari’s side had never even played in a final until this run.
The senior side is next up for Nigerian fans. The Super Eagles face Tanzania in Uyo in an AFCON 2027 qualifier, and new Bet9ja users can check the YOHAIG promo code before backing the Super Eagles.
Winning the Golden Ball at 16 changes how a player is seen overnight. Scouts, club officials and national team coaches all keep notes on tournaments like this one.
Nigerian football fans have seen this pattern before. A young star shines on the world stage, her state rushes to celebrate her, and the real test starts afterwards: minutes at club level, proper coaching and steady support.
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The Flamingos have handed Nigerian women’s football a template. Busari built a side that lost its opener, kept its nerve and finished the job against Japan in the final.
Can the federation turn this into a pipeline rather than a one-off? The talent is clearly there. The structure around it decides the rest.
Whatever follows in Awka, Umejiaku has already earned her place in the record books. Readers still asking how the bonus system works can find a clear breakdown in this Bet9ja bonus conversion guide.
📌 Did You Know?
- Nigeria is now the first African nation to hold titles in both the men’s and women’s U-17 World Cups.
- The Flamingos’ previous best finish was third place at the 2022 tournament in India, where they lost the semi-final to Colombia and then beat Germany in the third-place match.
- Umejiaku was also named Player of the Match in the final against Japan, on top of winning the Golden Ball.
- She was part of the Flamingos squad that won the WAFU-B U-17 Girls Cup in September, a few weeks before the World Cup.
- The Golden Boot went to USA’s Maddie DiMaria with 12 goals, while DPR Korea’s Yu Jong-hyang took the Silver Ball and Japan’s Fuki Ito collected the Bronze Ball.
- Japan lost the final but still won the FIFA Fair Play Trophy, and DPR Korea goalkeeper Kim Son-gyong claimed the Golden Glove.
- FIFA classifies the U-17 Women’s World Cup as a developmental tournament, so it attaches no official prize money to the title.
