— Bashiru, Umejiaku fire Nigeria to historic 2-1 victory in Morocco
— Japan suffer third defeat in final as Flamingos end Nigeria’s long wait for global glory
— Akeem Busari’s side overcome opening-match setback to clinch maiden world title
Daud Olatunji
Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, have made history by winning their first-ever FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup title after defeating Japan 2-1 in Saturday’s final in Morocco.
The Nigerian girls produced a determined performance to overcome their Japanese counterparts at the Mohammed VI Football Complex, with goals from Awau Bashiru and Olubebe Umejiaku securing the historic victory.
Japan’s Fuki Ito scored the only goal for her side, but it was not enough to prevent Nigeria from lifting the trophy for the first time since the competition was introduced.
The triumph marks a significant milestone for Nigerian women’s football, with the Flamingos finally converting their impressive performances on the global stage into a championship-winning campaign.
Nigeria took the lead in the 39th minute when Bashiru unleashed a speculative effort from the edge of the penalty area. The Japanese goalkeeper failed to hold the ball as it slipped through her gloves and into the net.
The Flamingos returned from the break with renewed determination and doubled their advantage just two minutes into the second half.
Umejiaku calmly finished her opportunity in the 47th minute to put Nigeria firmly in control of the encounter and leave Japan facing an uphill task.
Japan, however, refused to surrender without a fight, with Ito reducing the deficit following a corner kick to revive hopes of a comeback.
Despite the late pressure from the Asian side, Nigeria held their ground, defending their advantage until the final whistle to secure a memorable 2-1 victory and the coveted trophy.
The achievement is particularly remarkable given that the Flamingos suffered defeat in their opening match of the tournament, making them the first team to win the competition after losing their first game.
Under the guidance of Akeem Busari, Nigeria subsequently recovered from the early setback, overcoming formidable opponents, including Korea DPR and Brazil, on their way to the final.
Their victory over Japan also handed the Asian nation a third defeat in a U-17 Women’s World Cup final.
The historic success represents a significant improvement on Nigeria’s previous best performance at the tournament, when the Flamingos finished with a bronze medal at the 2022 edition.
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