According to a report by The Punch on Sunday, November 8, 2026, in football management, rare is the fairy tale that unfolds as rapidly and spectacularly as the journey of Akeem Ishola Busari.

Just seven months and five days after being handed the reins of Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, Busari has etched his name permanently in gold.

By guiding the squad to a breathtaking 2-1 victory over powerhouse Japan in the final of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Rabat, Morocco, he transformed audacious dreams into reality, making Nigeria the very first African nation to lift the coveted global trophy.

The historic triumph is the crowning glory of a meticulous technical transformation that began on April 2, 2026, when the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Executive Committee approved his appointment to succeed Bankole Olowookere.

At the time of his selection, Busari was plying his trade as the head coach of Pacesetter Queens FC of Ibadan.

Drawing from decades of professional grounding—including rigorous coaching qualifications obtained from the National Institute for Sports (NIS) in Lagos starting back in 1999—Busari stepped into the national assignment with a clear tactical vision and unshakeable resolve.

Busari's immediate mandate was daunting: navigate the African qualifiers and conquer the world stage.

Wasting no time, he cast his net wide, inviting 36 players to a rigorous screening camp in April, blending academy talents with experienced legs from the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL), including players from his former club.

The strategy paid off in July 2026 when the Flamingos stamped their authority with an 8-5 aggregate victory over the Amazons of Benin Republic in Lomé, securing their ticket to Morocco.

However, the global tournament itself tested the team's mental fortitude from the onset. After suffering a jittery 2-1 defeat to Poland in their opening group match on October 17, skepticism loomed.

Yet, Busari’s tactical astuteness shone through. The Flamingos bounced back with clinical precision, brushing aside Puerto Rico 2-0 before stunning defending champions North Korea 3-1.

They carried this unstoppable momentum into the knockout stages, dismantling Mexico 2-1, edging Venezuela 1-0, and staging a masterclass 3-1 semi-final victory over Brazil to reach the historic final.

On November 7, 2026, at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat, the Flamingos delivered their finest performance.

Capitalizing on Busari's tactical tweaks—most notably starting Awawu Bashiru, who rewarded his faith with a brilliant long-range opener in the 39th minute—Nigeria took control.

Just after the break, Oluebube Umejiaku doubled the lead with a sublime lofted finish over the Japanese goalkeeper.

Though Japan fought back with a late goal in the 80th minute, the Nigerian girls defended heroically to seal the 2-1 win. Umejiaku was deservedly named Player of the Tournament, while Busari celebrated a monumental paradigm shift for African football on the global stage.

Reflecting on the historic milestone, an emotional Busari noted, "This is a turnaround for Africa... We are sending a signal, a message to the world that Africa is really coming."

Having superseded previous bronze-medal achievements to reach the absolute summit of youth football, Coach Akeem Busari and his golden Flamingos have given Nigeria a moment of eternal sporting pride.