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Nigeria’s Flamingos are 90 minutes away from making African football history. Victory over Japan’s Little Nadeshiko in Saturday’s 2026 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup Final in Rabat, Morocco, would make Nigeria the first African country to win the World Cup in both the U17 men’s and women’s categories.
The final, at Pitch 3 of the Complexe Mohammed VI, promises fireworks. The Nigerian girls say they are ready to play the game of their lives, lift the trophy and present it to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, in the coming days.
The Flamingos began slowly, losing 1-2 to Poland, and were unconvincing in beating Puerto Rico. They found their form in the last group match, beating two-time champions and holders Korea DPR 3-1 to finish as group runners-up.
Mexico fell 2-1 in the Round of 16, and Venezuela, surprise winners against Germany, were beaten in the quarter-finals. Any remaining doubts disappeared in the semi-final, where Nigeria beat a brilliant Brazil 3-1. The Flamingos had 30 shots on goal and could have been six up before Brazil scored a consolation goal a minute from time.
The display underlined Nigeria’s scoring pedigree at this competition. The Flamingos have 115 goals since the inaugural edition in New Zealand 18 years ago, and have appeared in every tournament since except 2018 in Uruguay. They missed that one after losing to Cameroon on away goals in the final qualifying round.
Japan were not supposed to be in the final. Korean defender Won Sol-gyong scored an own goal in the dying seconds of the semi-final to make it 1-1, and the Japanese won the penalty shootout.
Japan have scored 150 goals in the competition since 2008, the highest tally of any team, and with New Zealand are the only nations to have featured in every edition. Saturday is their fourth final.
They won in 2014, beating Spain 2-0 in Costa Rica, and lost in 2010 and 2016.
Nigeria have had 113 attempts on goal in this year’s tournament alone.
, and after the wins over Korea DPR and Brazil, they fear no one.
Their 12 goals have come from eight different players, a sign of depth. Oluebube Umejiaku has three, Awawu Bashiru and Oluwakemi Adegbuyi two each, and Kanyinsola Yusuf, Queen Joseph, Mary Dunstan, Precious Oscar and Azeezat Oduntan one apiece.
Oduntan, made captain after forward Harmony Chidi was benched, has led well. She kept her nerve to score from the penalty spot a minute from time in the tough quarter-final against Venezuela.
Coach Hakeem Busari and his assistants have earned praise for switching tactics and personnel to unsettle opponents. Bashiru, who scored twice against Brazil, had played only 73 minutes as a substitute before that match. She was picked ahead of playmaker Tosin Rafiu and delivered.
Acting General Secretary of the NFF, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, who will be at the final, is confident the Flamingos can beat the Asians.
“The NFF has confidence in the ability of the Flamingos to make Nigerians beam with smiles of joy on Saturday. 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.”
A Federal Government delegation will also attend. It will be led by the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, and will include NSC Director General Hon. Bukola Olopade and Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service, CG Adewale Adeniyi.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino and CAF President Patrice Motsepe are also expected at the match.
