Flamingos target history in U-17 World Cup final

Nigeria will become the first African country to win the FIFA World Cup in both the men’s and women’s U-17 categories if they beat Japan in the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup final in Rabat, Morocco, on Saturday.

The match will be played at Pitch 3 of the Complexe Mohammed VI, and the Nigerian girls have vowed to play the game of their lives and lift the trophy.

The Flamingos started slowly with a 2-1 defeat to Poland and were unconvincing in beating Puerto Rico. They then beat two-time winners and holders Korea DPR 3-1 to qualify as group runners-up. They have since beaten Mexico 2-1 in the Round of 16 and overcome Venezuela in the quarter-finals.

In the semi-finals, they beat Brazil 3-1 and had 30 shots on goal. Brazil scored a consolation goal with one minute left of normal time.

Nigeria have scored 12 goals at this tournament, spread across eight players. Oluebube Umejiaku has three, Awawu Bashiru and Oluwakemi Adegbuyi have two each, while Kanyinsola Yusuf, Queen Joseph, Mary Dunstan, Precious Oscar and Azeezat Oduntan have one each.

Oduntan was named captain after forward Harmony Chidi was benched. She scored from the penalty spot with one minute left of the quarter-final against Venezuela. Bashiru had played only 73 minutes as a substitute before she started ahead of playmaker Tosin Rafiu against Brazil, and she scored twice.

Japan reached the final through a penalty shootout. They drew 1-1 with Korea DPR after defender Won Sol-gyong scored an own goal, then won the shootout 4-1.

Head coach Akeem Busari said the team must repeat their approach against Korea DPR.

“It’s just about showing the same character and playing the same way we played with North Korea, because they play with the same philosophy,” he said.

“I’m excited, and I’m happy, but we just really want to pick up the trophy.”

Japan coach Sadayoshi Shirai said his side were determined to finish the job.

“We don’t want to stop here. We will continue moving forward, prepare as well as we can for the final, and give everything we have to become world champions,” he said.

The acting General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, will be at the final and has backed the team.

“If Brazil could not stop them, I don’t see Japan doing so. This is surely the year of the Flamingos, and the year Nigeria will again celebrate a global title,” he said.

A Federal Government delegation led by the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, will also attend. FIFA President Gianni Infantino and CAF President Patrice Motsepe will attend too.