Nigeria’s Flamingos arrived in Abuja on Monday morning after their historic FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup win in Morocco.
The team clinched its first-ever title on Saturday by narrowly defeating Japan 2-1 in the final, with Awawu Bashiru and Oluebube Umejiaku netting the goals that secured Nigeria’s win.
With this feat, the Flamingos also became the first African team to win the global age-grade tournament.
Their triumph came on the back of an impressive run of form ahead of the tournament, as they claimed the 2026 WAFU-B U-17 Girls Cup in Côte d’Ivoire with a flawless record of five wins in five matches. During the competition, they found the net 17 times and conceded just once.
Head coach Hakeem Busari commended his players for their determination and tactical discipline and expressed confidence in the future of African football.
Speaking after the final, Busari noted that African teams’ performances at the tournament showed improvements in quality, character, and competitiveness, even when facing formidable opponents.
He noted that the Flamingos had come through a tough group that included the defending champions and described their campaign as proof of the growth of women’s youth football on the continent.
“What we are seeing now is not a fluke. It is about development, it is about character, and it is about fighting from the beginning to really get it right. So we are elated and happy,” he said.
The coach voiced optimism that additional African nations would advance to the later rounds of upcoming editions of the tournament and in time contend for the championship.
Looking back on the final versus Japan, Busari noted that his technical staff had pinpointed the opponents’ knack for winning second balls and for exploiting the spaces behind defensive lines as major dangers.
He clarified that the Flamingos altered their approach to limit Japan’s attacking choices by playing long passes into open areas instead of zones where the opponents could regain possession with ease.
As he put it, the team’s initial plan was to score early, but they grew more cautious once they had taken the lead. Japan, though, equalized from a set piece.
Busari characterized the final as a tactical contest that called for collective defending, discipline, and smart game management.
In the meantime, President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the Flamingos on their historic feat, calling the win a moment of national pride and a major milestone for African women’s football.
In a statement released on Sunday by his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu said he learned of the victory after coming back from campaign engagements in Akwa Ibom and Rivers states.
“What wonderful news to return home to! Our young girls have conquered the world and given Nigerians everywhere another reason to celebrate our great country.
“To our gallant Flamingos, I say congratulations. You have shown courage, discipline, determination, and the Nigerian spirit of never giving up.
“I followed your journey throughout this tournament, and after your semi-final victory, you promised to bring the trophy home. Today, you have kept that promise. You believed in yourselves, fought for one another, and carried our nation’s flag to the very top of the world,” the president said.
Tinubu stated that the victory would inspire millions of young Nigerian girls by showing them what they could achieve through hard work, opportunity, and determination.
“Today, Nigeria celebrates you. You have written your names in gold, and your country is immensely proud of you,” he added.
The president also singled out Bashiru and Umejiaku for their decisive contributions, and he praised the entire squad for its teamwork throughout the competition.
He congratulated the coaching crew, the Nigeria Football Federation, and the National Sports Commission for the roles they played in the team’s success.
Tinubu restated his administration’s commitment to developing grassroots sports and creating more opportunities for young Nigerians, especially girls, to discover and develop their talents.
“Congratulations once again, Flamingos. Thank you for making Nigeria proud,” he said.
