Nigeria Beat Japan 2-1 to Become 1st African Nation to Lift FIFA U-17 WWC

Nigeria’s junior women’s football team, the Flamingos on Saturday made history as the first-ever African side to win the FIFA Women’s World Cup at any level after a 2-1 defeat of Japan’s Little Nadeshiko in the epic final of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup finals decided at Pitch 3 of Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat, Morocco.

Two goals in each half scored by midfielder Awawu Bashiru in the 39th minute assisted by Mary Dunstan and Oluebube Umejiaku assisted by Esther Stephen in the 47th minute helped to get Nigeria over the line in the high-tension match which stretched the Flamingos backline.

Although the Japanese pulled one back through Fuki ITO in the 80th minute, the coach Busari Hakeem Ishola wards kept pushing forward while defending resolutely till the end of the match.