RABAT: Nigeria’s historic victory at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup has been described by Oluebube Umejiaku, Awawu Bashiru and head coach Akeem Busari as a triumph built on teamwork, determination and the willingness to seize opportunities.

The Flamingos defeated Japan 2-1 in Saturday’s final in Rabat, Morocco, to become the first African nation to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

Umejiaku and Bashiru scored the decisive goals, with the former finding the net in the 47th minute after Bashiru had opened the scoring six minutes before half-time.

Japan pulled one back through Fuki Ito in the 80th minute, but Nigeria held on to secure the historic title.

Umejiaku: Africa always wins

Umejiaku’s journey through the tournament was particularly remarkable. She began the competition on the bench but finished as Nigeria’s decisive scorer in the final and the tournament’s outstanding player.

The forward scored against Poland, DPR Korea, Mexico and Japan, helping Nigeria recover from their opening defeat to Poland and win the remaining six matches.

Reflecting on her rise during the competition, Umejiaku told FIFA that she remained prayerful and patient while waiting for her opportunity to start.

She explained that after Nigeria lost their opening match, the players understood that every remaining fixture had to be approached like a final.

Umejiaku also delivered a confident message about the future of African football, saying: “In Africa we always win – that's a promise.”

She received the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player and was also named Player of the Match in the final.

Bashiru celebrates her breakthrough

Bashiru was another major contributor to Nigeria’s success after earning a starting opportunity in the knockout stages.

The forward had limited playing time earlier in the competition but made an immediate impact when selected against Brazil in the semi-final, scoring twice in Nigeria’s 3-1 victory.

She followed that performance by scoring the opening goal against Japan, giving the Flamingos the platform to claim the trophy.

Bashiru credited teamwork, discipline and following the coaches’ instructions for the team's achievement.

“We are history-makers. We made Nigeria, and the millions of people there, proud,” she told FIFA.

She also expressed optimism about Nigeria’s future, promising that the team would bring the same energy and determination to the next edition of the competition.

Busari explains his selection philosophy

Head coach Akeem Busari praised the players who took their opportunities and explained that his selection decisions were based on character, attitude and merit.

He revealed that the players who eventually became decisive figures had earned their opportunities through their commitment in training.

“No matter how good you are, I'm a coach that plays on character,” Busari said.

He added that players must demonstrate the right mindset and attitude to earn playing time, stressing the importance of having everyone committed to the team's collective objectives.

Busari described Nigeria’s triumph as a major turning point for African youth football, insisting that the achievement demonstrated the continent’s growing ability to compete at the highest level.

A new chapter for African football

Nigeria’s victory over Japan marked the country's first FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup title and a landmark moment for African women's football.

The Flamingos also became the first African women's national team to win a FIFA world title at any level.

After losing their opening match to Poland, Busari’s team responded with six consecutive victories, culminating in the historic final triumph.

The achievement has given Nigerian football a new generation of champions, with Umejiaku and Bashiru among the standout performers in a campaign that will be remembered across the continent.