Result: Nigeria beat Japan 2-1 to win the U-17 Women’s World Cup. Read the match report.
Nigeria’s Flamingos face Japan in the final of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup tonight, Saturday 7 November, with kick-off at 7:30pm Nigerian time (6:30pm GMT) at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat, Morocco. A win would make Nigeria the first African country to lift the trophy.
Latest: Super Falcons, Falconets and Flamingos news today: Nigerian women’s football hub
Key Highlights
- Kick-off: 7:30pm WAT (6:30pm GMT), Saturday 7 November 2026, Mohammed VI Football Complex, Pitch 3, Rabat.
- Nigeria are the first African team ever to reach the U-17 Women’s World Cup final.
- The Flamingos beat Brazil 3-1 in the semi-final, with Awawu Bashiru scoring twice.
- Japan, champions in 2014, beat holders DPR Korea on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
- It is the first meeting between Nigeria and Japan at this tournament.
- The bronze final between DPR Korea and Brazil comes first on the same day.
Flamingos vs Japan: kick-off time and venue
According to FIFA’s official tournament schedule, the final, the 52nd and last match of Morocco 2026, kicks off at 18:30 GMT. That is 7:30pm in Nigeria. The match will be played at Pitch 3 of the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat. FIFA is streaming matches from the tournament on its FIFA+ platform.
The bronze final between DPR Korea and Brazil is scheduled for earlier in the day.
How the Flamingos reached the final
Hakeem Busari’s side began the tournament with a 2-1 defeat to Poland but have not lost since. They beat Mexico in the round of 16 and edged Venezuela 1-0 in the quarter-final before producing their most complete performance against Brazil on Wednesday.
After a goalless first half, Queen Joseph opened the scoring in the 56th minute. Awawu Bashiru then scored in the 71st and 80th minutes, and Brazil’s Greise Kelly pulled one back in the 89th. Bashiru was named Player of the Match. Nigeria have scored 12 goals and conceded five in six matches in Morocco.
The run has already beaten Nigeria’s previous best at the tournament, third place in 2022. Speaking after the semi-final, Joseph said the team saw themselves as representing the whole of Africa, not only Nigeria.
Japan: unbeaten and battle-tested
Japan reach their fourth U-17 Women’s World Cup final and their first since 2016. They are unbeaten in Morocco and have conceded only two goals. In the semi-final they trailed defending champions DPR Korea until the fifth minute of added time, when an own goal forced penalties. Goalkeeper Kou Kadowaki saved in the shootout and Japan won it 4-1.
The final will be the 50th U-17 Women’s World Cup match in Japan’s history, and coach Sadayoshi Shirai will set a tournament record by taking charge of his 16th match.
Read also:
- U-17 Women’s World Cup: NIS DG Philip Shaibu Urges Flamingos to Defeat Japan and Win Historic Title
- Flamingos vs Brazil: Nigeria Target Historic FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Final
- Okpebholo Congratulates Flamingos On Historic U-17 World Cup Final Qualification
- Breaking: Flamingos Make History, Beat Japan To Win 1st U-17 Women’s World Cup Title
- Flamingos Beat Japan 2-1 to Win Nigeria’s First U-17 Women’s World Cup
What is at stake
No African team has won the U-17 Women’s World Cup, and Nigeria have never won a FIFA women’s title at any level. Victory in Rabat would also be the biggest result for Nigerian women’s football since the Super Falcons’ continental successes.
The Trumpet will publish the result and reaction after the final whistle. For live updates on the Flamingos, follow us on X.
