According to a post on the Super Falcons' official X account on Friday, November 6, 2026, Nigeria's starting lineup for the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup final against Japan was announced.

Nigeria's Flamingos are just one victory away from making history as they prepare to face Japan in the final in Rabat. Head coach Akeem Ishola Busari has shown confidence in his players through his decision to keep the same team that helped Nigeria reach this stage.

Two major decisions stand out in his selection.

Keeping His Attacking Trio Together

The first important decision was Busari's decision to retain his attacking trio of Oluwakemi Adegbuyi, Oluebube Umejiaku and Awawu Bashiru.

All three players have scored two goals each in the tournament and are among Nigeria's joint top scorers. They have played important roles in the team's success, including their impressive performance against South Korea.

While some coaches might have decided to rest or change their attacking players after a difficult tournament, Busari chose to keep his strongest attacking options together.

He believes their understanding and ability to work together could give Nigeria an advantage in the final. Their pace, movement and finishing have troubled several opponents, and Japan will need to find a way to stop them.

Trusting Players Who Have Proven Themselves Under Pressure

Another important decision was Busari's choice to maintain the core of the team that secured Nigeria's place in the final.

Rather than making several changes or introducing new players simply to give them an opportunity, the coach decided to trust those who had delivered important performances throughout the competition.

This decision shows his confidence in the players and the team's current system. The girls understand their roles, know how their teammates move and have already shown that they can compete against strong opposition.

Making major changes at this stage could have affected the team's understanding and disrupted the good form they have built throughout the tournament. Busari has therefore decided that keeping the winning team together is the best approach as Nigeria prepares for the final against Japan.