Nigeria’s Flamingos have arrived in Abuja following their historic victory at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, becoming the first African team to win the competition.
The victorious squad landed in the Federal Capital Territory on Monday morning, Channels TV reports, two days after defeating Japan 2-1 in the final to claim their maiden title.
Awawu Bashiru and Oluebube Umejiaku scored the decisive goals as Nigeria overcame the Japanese side on Saturday, completing a remarkable campaign at the global youth tournament.
The triumph marked a significant milestone for Nigerian women’s football, with the Flamingos also making history as the first African nation to lift the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup trophy.
The team’s impressive performance in Morocco followed their dominant display at the 2026 WAFU-B U-17 Girls Cup in Côte d’Ivoire, where they won all five matches, scored 17 goals and conceded just once.
Head coach Hakeem Busari commended his players for their resilience, tactical discipline and determination, describing their achievement as a reflection of the progress being made in African women’s youth football.
Speaking after the final, Busari said the performances of African teams at the tournament reflected improvements in quality, character and competitiveness, despite facing formidable opponents.
“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 expressed optimism that more African countries would progress to the latter stages of future editions of the competition and eventually challenge for the title.
Reflecting on the final, Busari said his technical crew had identified Japan’s ability to win second balls and exploit spaces behind defensive lines as major threats.
He explained that the Flamingos adopted tactical adjustments to limit Japan’s attacking opportunities, directing long passes into open spaces where their opponents would struggle to regain possession.
According to the coach, Nigeria initially sought to score early but became more cautious after taking the lead, while Japan eventually equalised through a set-piece situation.
Busari described the encounter as a tactical contest that required collective defending, discipline and effective game management.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the Flamingos on their historic achievement, describing the victory as a source of national pride and a major milestone for African women’s football.
In a statement issued on Sunday by his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu said he received the news of the triumph after returning 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 said the victory would serve as motivation for millions of young Nigerian girls, demonstrating the possibilities that could be achieved 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 praised Bashiru and Umejiaku for their crucial contributions to the final, while commending the entire squad for its collective effort throughout the tournament.
He extended his congratulations to the coaching crew, the Nigeria Football Federation and the National Sports Commission for their contributions to the team’s success.
Tinubu further reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to grassroots sports development and providing opportunities for young Nigerians, particularly girls, to identify and nurture their talents.
“Congratulations once again, Flamingos. Thank you for making Nigeria proud,” he said.
