2026 U-17 WWC: Flamingos make history, defeat Japan to win first-ever title

Nigeria's Flamingos person made past by winning the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup aft defeating Japan 2-1 successful the last successful Rabat connected Saturday night.

The triumph marks the archetypal clip an African federation has lifted the prestigious title.

Japan started the brushwood brightly, putting the Nigerian defence nether unit successful the opening stages.

However, Akeem Busari's broadside gradually grew into the game, arsenic Olubebe Umejiaku and Awawu Bashiru some missed promising opportunities to springiness Nigeria the lead.

Umejiaku came adjacent to breaking the deadlock successful the 38th minute, but her header crashed against the crossbar.

Nigeria yet took the pb a infinitesimal aboriginal done Bashiru, whose long-range effort recovered the backmost of the nett to springiness the Flamingos a 1-0 advantage.

The Nigerian youngsters held connected to their pb until the half-time break.

Two minutes into the 2nd half, Umejiaku doubled Nigeria's vantage with a superb finish, putting the Flamingos firmly successful power of the contest.

Japan refused to surrender and mounted a precocious fightback, with Fuki Ito pulling 1 backmost successful the 80th infinitesimal to acceptable up a tense closing period.

However, the Flamingos stood steadfast to sphere their pb and unafraid a historical 2-1 victory, becoming the archetypal African squad to triumph the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.

2026 U-17 WWC: Flamingos marque history, decision Japan to triumph first-ever title