Nigeria’s Flamingos beat Japan 2-1 in the final in Rabat, Morocco, on Saturday night to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup for the first time and become the first African team to be crowned world champions at the tournament.

Goals from Awawu Bashiru and Oluebube Umejiaku gave the West Africans the lead at the Mohammed VI Football Complex, and they held on after Fuki Ito pulled one back for the Little Nadeshiko in the 80th minute.

The Flamingos were the better side from the start and had six shots in the first half. Umejiaku rounded the Japanese goalkeeper in the 28th minute but could not finish.

Bashiru broke the deadlock in the 39th minute with an effort from outside the box that slipped through the hands of Japan goalkeeper Kou Kadowaki, with Mary Dunstan providing the assist.

Nigeria doubled their lead just two minutes into the second half. Umejiaku made amends for her earlier miss and kept her composure to chip Kadowaki confidently in the 47th minute.

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Japan, who were chasing a second world title, responded late on when Ito scored, but the Flamingos defended resolutely to secure the victory.

Akeem Busari’s side lifted the trophy after a campaign that started poorly with a 2-1 defeat to Poland.

They beat Puerto Rico, then defeated holders Korea DPR 3-1 to qualify as group runners-up. They went on to beat Mexico 2-1 in the Round of 16, overcame Venezuela in the quarter-finals and defeated Brazil 3-1 in the semi-finals.

Before the final, Flamingos captain Harmony Chidi said winning the trophy would be a moment her country would not forget.

“Reaching the final is a very big thing; it’s a great thing, and it’s something that we have dreamed of. (Winning) would be something myself, my country, my teammates, our coaches, and everybody would be proud of,” she told FIFA.com.

Korea DPR won the third-place match, beating Brazil 6-0.