Flamingos Arrive Abuja After Historic U-17 Women’s World Cup Triumph

Nigeria’s victorious U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, arrived in Abuja on Monday morning, November 9, following their historic triumph at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.

The Nigerian girls defeated Japan 2-1 in Saturday’s final to clinch their maiden title, with Awawu Bashiru and Oluebube Umejiaku scoring the goals that secured the historic victory.

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The triumph made Nigeria the first African country to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, marking a significant milestone for women’s football on the continent.

The Flamingos’ arrival in the Federal Capital Territory followed an impressive campaign in which they demonstrated determination, tactical discipline and resilience against some of the world’s best youth teams.

Their success came after an equally impressive performance at the 2026 WAFU-B U-17 Girls Cup in Côte d’Ivoire, where they won all five matches, scoring 17 goals and conceding just once.

Head coach Hakeem Busari praised his players for their commitment and fighting spirit, describing their achievement as evidence of the growing development and competitiveness of African women’s football.

Speaking after the final, Busari said the performances of African teams at the competition reflected improvements in quality, character and determination.

“What we are seeing now is not a fluke. It is about development, it is about character, and it is about fighting from the beginning to really get it right. So we are elated and happy,” he said.

The coach also disclosed that his technical team had carefully studied Japan’s playing style before the final, particularly the Asian side’s ability to win second balls and exploit spaces behind defensive lines.

He explained that the Flamingos adjusted their approach by directing long passes into available spaces to prevent Japan from easily recovering possession.

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the team on their historic achievement, describing the victory as a moment of national pride and a major milestone for African women’s football.

In a statement issued on Sunday by his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu said the victory would inspire millions of young Nigerian girls to pursue their dreams through hard work, determination and dedication.

The President also celebrated the players and their technical crew for bringing honour to Nigeria through their outstanding performance.

The Flamingos’ historic achievement has further strengthened Nigeria’s reputation as a major force in women’s football and raised hopes for the future of the country’s female football talents.