In a historic triumph for African football, Nigeria’s U‑17 women’s team, nicknamed the Flamingos, lifted the 2026 FIFA U‑17 Women’s World Cup trophy in Rabat, Morocco, after a 2‑1 victory over Japan in the final on Saturday.
Former Super Eagles captain and current head coach Sunday Oliseh celebrated the win on his official X account, calling the achievement a moment of immense joy for Nigerians. “Congratulations Flamingos, I saw almost every game and the North Korea game was my favourite. You just made my year! These girls got pace, football intelligence, hunger to succeed, and a great team spirit. May God surprise you positively like you did us, Nigerians. Bravo sisters! The world applauds you,” he wrote.
The Flamingos’ journey began with a 2‑1 defeat to Poland in their opening match, but the squad bounced back to secure wins over Puerto Rico and the defending champions North Korea, the latter match being highlighted by Oliseh as the tournament’s standout game.
In the knockout stages, Nigeria continued their momentum, defeating Mexico and Venezuela before a 3‑1 win over Brazil booked their first-ever appearance in a U‑17 Women’s World Cup final.
The final in Rabat saw Nigeria hold off a late rally from Japan, who were reduced to a 1‑0 deficit by Fuki Ito. The Nigerian side remained resolute until the final whistle, sealing a memorable victory that marked the first time an African team has claimed the U‑17 Women’s World Cup title.
Oliseh’s praise underscores the significance of the triumph for Nigerian women’s football and the broader African football community, as the Flamingos etched their names into history with this landmark achievement.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
