According to a report by ESPN on Saturday, November 7, 2026, Nigeria's Flamingos have accomplished an extraordinary feat at the ongoing FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Morocco, setting a new tournament record that no other country has managed to achieve since the competition began. The Nigerian team have become the first side to produce five different Player of the Match winners in one edition of the tournament.

This historic milestone further underlines the remarkable journey of the Flamingos, who have continued to impress with their performances against some of the strongest teams in the competition. Nigeria reached this landmark after overcoming Brazil 3-1 in the semi-final, earning a place in the final for the first time in their history.

The achievement is particularly significant because the individual awards have been shared among five members of the squad. It shows that Nigeria are not relying on a single superstar to deliver results, as different players have consistently stepped up and influenced important matches throughout the tournament.

The first player to receive the recognition was Oluwakemi Adegbuyi, who earned the award following Nigeria's 2-0 triumph over Puerto Rico in the group stage. Kanyinsola Yusuf subsequently joined the list after playing an important role in the Flamingos' impressive 3-1 victory against DPR Korea, the defending champions.

Oluebube Umejiaku was the next Nigerian footballer to receive the honour. Her contribution was recognised after Nigeria eliminated Mexico with a 2-1 victory in the Round of 16, allowing the team to progress into the quarter-finals.

The individual recognition continued when Favour Nkwocha produced an outstanding display against Venezuela. The Flamingos defeated their South American opponents 1-0, with Nkwocha receiving the Player of the Match award for her contribution to the important quarter-final success.

Awawu Bashiru completed the historic achievement after becoming the fifth Nigerian player to claim the award. She was instrumental in the 3-1 semi-final victory over Brazil, scoring twice in the second half to help the Flamingos reach the final.

Her performance attracted particular attention because she had not previously started a match at the tournament. Despite recording only 73 minutes before the semi-final, she took her opportunity brilliantly and delivered one of Nigeria's most important performances of the competition.

Beyond the individual awards, this record highlights the depth, determination and unity within the Nigerian squad. Having different players influence victories against different opponents is a clear indication of the team's collective quality.

As the Flamingos prepare to face Japan in Saturday's final, they will have another opportunity to create history by winning the competition for the first time and bringing the trophy back to Nigeria.