Meet LASU student who assisted Flamingos’ World Cup-winning goal

Flamingos defender and Lagos State University student, Esther Stephen

At just 16, Lagos State University student, Esther Stephen, helped write Nigerian football history when her long pass set up the winning goal in the Flamingos’ 2–1 victory over Japan in the final of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

Stephen, a Diploma 2 student of Human Kinetics, Sports and Health Education at LASU, played a crucial role in Nigeria’s 2-1 victory over Japan in the final of the tournament held in Rabat, Morocco, on Saturday, November 7, 2026.

The young defender supplied the assist for Oluebube Umejiaku’s winning goal in the 47th minute, helping Nigeria become the first African country to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

The victory was sealed by goals from Awawu Bashiru in the 39th minute and Umejiaku shortly after the restart, completing a historic campaign for the Nigerian side.

Stephen featured in all seven matches played by the Flamingos at the tournament, demonstrating consistency and defensive resilience.

Although she primarily operated as a right full-back for the national team, she plays as a central defender for her club, Unification Female Team, Lagos, where she also serves as captain.

Her contribution to the national team’s success has attracted recognition from the Lagos State University community, with the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ayodeji Badejo, congratulating her and the entire Flamingos squad on the achievement.

In a statement on Thursday, Badejo described Stephen’s performance as a source of pride for the university, Lagos State and Nigeria, noting that her discipline, versatility and dedication reflected the institution’s commitment to nurturing students who excel beyond the classroom.

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The vice-chancellor said, “I am immensely delighted and proud that a student of Lagos State University has played such a significant role in bringing this historic honour to Nigeria and the African continent. Esther Stephen has demonstrated that our students possess the talent, discipline, determination, and competitive spirit required to excel on the global stage.”

Badejo also commended Stephen’s coaches, lecturers and other members of the university community for their contributions to her development.

She assured all that her administration would continue to identify and support promising talents across the institution, adding that she looked forward to receiving and celebrating the young footballer.

Stephen’s latest international achievement is not her first major success in university football.

She was part of the LASU female football team that defeated its arch-rivals, the University of Lagos, to win gold at the 2024 All Africa University Games, jointly hosted by both institutions.

The triumph also earned the team qualification to represent Africa at the 2025 World University Games in China.

At club level, the Benue State-born footballer continues to develop her career with Unification Female Team, where she captains the Lagos-based side.

Her contribution to Nigeria’s World Cup triumph has also come amid national recognition for the Flamingos, with President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate announcing a N100m reward for the victorious team.