Nigeria’s victorious Flamingos arrived in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Monday morning following their historic victory at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup on Saturday.
The team clinched its maiden title in the competition after defeating Japan 2-1 in the final, with Awawu Bashiru and Oluebube Umejiaku scoring the goals that secured the landmark win.
The victory also made the Flamingos the first African team to lift the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup trophy.
Officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and some supporters welcomed the players upon their arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja in the early hours of Monday.
The achievement further strengthens the Flamingos’ position as one of Africa’s leading teams at youth level.
Before heading to Morocco for the tournament, the team had won the 2026 WAFU-B U-17 Girls Cup in Côte d’Ivoire, recording five victories in five matches. They scored 17 goals and conceded just one.
‘Victory not a fluke’
Flamingos head coach, Hakeem Busari, has commended his players for their resilience and tactical discipline throughout the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, expressing confidence in the future of African football.
Speaking in a post-match interview, Busari said the performances of African teams at the tournament demonstrated improvements in quality, character and competitiveness, despite facing strong opposition.
He maintained that the Flamingos’ achievement was the result of deliberate development and determination rather than luck.
“What we are seeing now is not a fluke. It is about development, it is about character, and it is about fighting from the beginning to really get it right. So we are elated and happy,” he said.
The coach also expressed hope that more African teams would advance beyond the knockout stages in subsequent editions of the competition and eventually reach the final.
Reflecting on the final against Japan, Busari said his technical crew had identified the opponents’ strength in winning second balls and exploiting spaces behind defensive lines.
He explained that the team adjusted its tactics to restrict Japan’s attacking opportunities, particularly by directing long passes into spaces rather than areas where the opponents could easily regain possession.
According to him, the Flamingos initially sought to score early before becoming more cautious after taking the lead. Japan, however, eventually drew level through a set-piece situation.
Busari described the encounter as a tactical battle that demanded collective defending, discipline and effective management of the game.