Nigeria’s history-making Flamingos return home to heroes’ welcome after first-ever U-17 Women’s World Cup triumph

Nigeria’s history-making Flamingos have returned home to a heroes’ welcome after becoming the first African nation to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, following their historic 2-1 victory over Japan in Saturday’s final in Morocco.

The victorious squad arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja in the early hours of Monday, where officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and supporters gathered to receive the young champions.

The Flamingos secured the historic title through goals from Awawu Bashiru and Oluebube Umejiaku, whose contributions proved decisive in overcoming Japan and delivering Nigeria’s maiden triumph in the competition.

Their achievement has also ended Africa’s long wait for a winner of the tournament, making the Nigerian side the first team from the continent to lift the trophy since the competition’s introduction.

The return to Abuja marks the culmination of an impressive campaign in which the Flamingos demonstrated their quality against some of the world’s leading youth teams.

Their success in Morocco further strengthens Nigeria’s reputation as a major force in women’s football, particularly at the youth level.

Busari insists Flamingos’ historic triumph is no fluke

Head coach Hakeem Busari has credited his players’ resilience, tactical discipline and commitment for their remarkable achievement, insisting their success reflects the growing development of African women’s football.

The Nigerian tactician believes the team’s triumph is evidence of the progress being made on the continent rather than an isolated achievement.

“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.

Busari also highlighted the difficulty of Nigeria’s route to the title, pointing to the quality of opposition they encountered, including the defending champions.

He expressed optimism that the Flamingos’ achievement could inspire other African nations to improve their youth development structures and compete more consistently at the highest level.

The coach hopes more teams from the continent will progress beyond the knockout stages in future editions and eventually challenge for the title.

Tactical adjustments prove decisive against Japan

Busari also offered insight into the tactical approach that helped Nigeria overcome Japan in the final, revealing that his technical team had identified key areas of vulnerability in their opponents’ game.

According to the coach, Japan’s ability to win second balls and exploit spaces behind defensive lines presented a significant challenge that required adjustments from the Nigerian side.

The technical crew consequently instructed the players to direct long passes into spaces rather than areas where the Japanese could easily regain possession and launch attacks.

Nigeria initially approached the encounter with an attacking mindset, seeking an early breakthrough before adjusting their strategy after taking the lead.

Japan eventually restored parity through a set-piece situation, forcing the Flamingos to demonstrate their defensive organisation and composure in a tightly contested encounter.

Busari described the final as a tactical battle that demanded collective responsibility, disciplined defending and effective management of crucial moments.

The victory capped an impressive run for the Flamingos, who had already established their dominance in West Africa before travelling to Morocco.

They won the 2026 WAFU-B U-17 Girls Cup in Côte d’Ivoire with a perfect record of five victories from five matches, scoring 17 goals and conceding just once.

Tinubu hails Flamingos for making Nigeria proud

Meanwhile, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the team, describing their achievement as a landmark moment for the country and African women’s football.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, on Sunday, Tinubu said he received the news following his return from campaign engagements in Akwa Ibom and Rivers States.

The President praised the players for fulfilling their promise to bring the trophy home after their semi-final victory, describing their triumph as a demonstration of courage, discipline and determination.

“What wonderful news to return home to! Our young girls have conquered the world and given Nigerians everywhere another reason to celebrate our great country.

“To our gallant Flamingos, I say congratulations. You have shown courage, discipline, determination and the Nigerian spirit of never giving up.

“I followed your journey throughout this tournament, and after your semi-final victory, you promised to bring the trophy home. Today, you have kept that promise. You believed in yourselves, fought for one another and carried our nation’s flag to the very top of the world,” he said.

Tinubu further described the achievement as an inspiration to millions of young Nigerian girls, demonstrating how determination, hard work and opportunities could help them reach the highest levels.

He particularly acknowledged Bashiru and Umejiaku for scoring the goals that secured the historic victory while praising the entire squad for their collective effort throughout the tournament.

The President also extended his congratulations to the coaching staff, the NFF and the National Sports Commission for their contributions to the team’s success.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to grassroots sports development, particularly initiatives aimed at creating opportunities for young girls to discover and develop their sporting abilities.

“Today, Nigeria celebrates you. You have written your names in gold, and your country is immensely proud of you,” Tinubu added.

The Flamingos’ triumph represents a significant milestone for Nigerian football and provides another platform for the country’s next generation of female footballers to establish themselves on the international stage.