The National Sports Commission (NSC) has congratulated Nigeria’s Flamingos following their historic emergence as champions of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
Key Highlights
- Nigeria’s Flamingos beat Japan 2-1 in Rabat to win the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, their first title in the competition.
- Nigeria became the first African country to win the tournament.
- NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko said the win shows the impact of grassroots development.
- NSC Director-General Hon. Bukola Olopade acknowledged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s support for sports development.
- Awawu Bashiru and Oluebube Umejiaku scored for Nigeria, while Fuki Ito replied for Japan.
The Nigerian youngsters defeated Japan 2-1 in Saturday’s final in Rabat to claim their first-ever title in the competition, becoming the first African country to win the tournament.
Reacting to the achievement, NSC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, described the victory as evidence of the positive impact of ongoing efforts to reposition Nigerian sports, particularly through grassroots development.
Dikko said the triumph underscored the importance of investing in young athletes, strengthening sports development structures and creating opportunities for emerging talents to excel internationally.
“When we get it right at the grassroots, the top will be corrected too,” he said, adding that the achievement demonstrated what sustained investment in sports development could deliver.
He congratulated the players, coaches and technical crew, describing their accomplishment as a defining moment for Nigerian football and a source of pride for the country and Africa.
The Director-General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, also celebrated the victory, describing it as a triumph for Nigerians and acknowledging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s support for sports development.
Olopade said the Flamingos had demonstrated the value of talent, adequate preparation and institutional support by converting the country’s investment in sports into a historic global achievement.
In the final, Awawu Bashiru opened the scoring for Nigeria in the 39th minute before Oluebube Umejiaku extended the lead in the 47th minute.
Japan fought back and reduced the deficit through Fuki Ito in the 80th minute, but the Flamingos maintained their advantage despite late pressure to secure the trophy.
Read also:
- Flamingos Beat Japan 2-1 to Win Nigeria’s First U-17 Women’s World Cup
- Okpebholo Congratulates Flamingos On Historic U-17 World Cup Final Qualification
- U-17 Women’s World Cup: NIS DG Philip Shaibu Urges Flamingos to Defeat Japan and Win Historic Title
The victory capped an impressive recovery by the Nigerian team, which began its campaign with a 2-1 defeat to Poland.
The Flamingos subsequently defeated Puerto Rico and defending champions Korea DPR in the group stage before eliminating Mexico, Venezuela and Brazil in the knockout rounds.
Their 3-1 semi-final victory over Brazil secured Nigeria’s first-ever appearance in the final, where they eventually completed their historic campaign by overcoming Japan.
Nigeria’s previous best performance at the competition was a third-place finish at the 2022 edition in India.
The Federal Government delegation at Saturday’s final was led by Dikko and included Olopade, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and Alhaji Saleh Ahmadu.
The final was also attended by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe, Acting Secretary-General of the Nigeria Football Federation, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, and former NFF President and ex-FIFA Council member, Amaju Melvin Pinnick.
Nigeria’s triumph marks a significant milestone for the country’s women’s football and African football, with the Flamingos bringing home a global title that had remained beyond the continent’s reach.
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