Nigeria’s Flamingos created history when they emerged winners of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup for the very first time on Saturday after beating Japan 2-1 in the final played in Rabat, Morocco.
Awawu Bashiru and Oluebube Umejiaku scored the goals that handed the trophy to Akeem Busari’s team which saw Nigeria become the first African nation to win the competition.
Flamingos got off to a bright start in the 39th minute when Bashiru’s long range shot beat the Japan keeper hands down.
The midfielder scored her third goal of the competition, having netted twice in Nigeria’s 3-1 semi-final win over Brazil.
Just two minutes into the second period, Nigeria took a two-goal lead. Assisted by Esther Stephen, Umejiaku executed coolly to put the ball into the net in the 47th minute.
Japan made the pressure and scored a late goal through Fuki Ito in the 80th minute of the game. But a little bit of defeat was not enough for Nigeria and they managed to defend well and won the tournament.
The victory put paid to a stunning reversal in form after Nigeria suffered a 2-1 defeat in their first group game against Poland and then racked up six wins in a row.
The Flamingos had finished third last year in 2022, but their win in Morocco was Nigeria’s first and a historic landmark for African women’s football.
