In a 2‑1 defeat in the 2026 FIFA U‑17 Women’s World Cup final in Morocco, Nigeria’s Flamingos lifted the trophy after beating Japan. The match, played on 14 September, saw Nigeria’s speed and physical strength prove decisive, according to Japan’s U‑17 coach Sadayoshi Shirai.
Oluebube Umejiaku and Awawu Bashiru scored for Nigeria, while Fuki Ito gave Japan a lone goal. Shirai said his side struggled to contain the Flamingos whenever they broke through the defensive lines, noting that the Nigerian team’s pace and physical approach were difficult to cope with during attacking transitions.
“First of all, I have to say that Nigeria were a very strong team. We understood their strengths, but there were moments when they managed to get in behind our defence,” said Shirai after the final.
He added that an earlier goal could have altered the outcome, but praised his players for fighting “incredibly hard until the very end” and urged them to take pride in their determination throughout the tournament. Shirai believes the experience will give the Japanese side confidence for future international competitions.
Japan reached the final by defeating DPR Korea in the semi‑finals, while Nigeria secured their place with a victory over Brazil. The Flamingos’ triumph marks a historic achievement for Nigerian women’s football and underscores the country’s growing reputation in youth women’s football.
<small>Source: The Sun Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
