Nigeria’s Flamingos Arrive in Abuja Following Historic FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Triumph

Nigeria’s victorious U-17 women’s national football team, the Flamingos, arrived in Abuja on Monday morning following their historic triumph at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.

The young champions landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport aboard a Royal Air Maroc flight at approximately 5:50 a.m., bringing home the trophy after defeating Japan 2-1 in Saturday’s final in Rabat.

Officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and supporters received the team upon arrival, marking the beginning of celebrations for one of the most significant achievements in Nigerian women’s football.

The victory made Nigeria the first African country to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. It also marked the first time an African women’s national team had won a FIFA World Cup title at any level.

Goals from Awawu Bashiru and Oluebube Umejiaku secured Nigeria’s victory over Japan in a closely contested final. The result completed an impressive campaign for the team under head coach Akeem Ishola Busari.

The Flamingos’ journey to the title was particularly remarkable because of the challenges they faced during the competition. Nigeria began the tournament with a 2-1 defeat to Poland but recovered to progress through the subsequent stages.

Their determination and tactical discipline became defining features of the campaign, culminating in their historic victory over Japan.

Before travelling to Morocco, the team had also demonstrated its strength by winning the 2026 WAFU-B U-17 Girls Cup in Côte d’Ivoire. They recorded five victories from five matches, scoring 17 goals and conceding only once.

Following the final, Busari praised his players for their resilience, preparation and commitment, insisting that the achievement was the product of deliberate development rather than chance.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had earlier congratulated the team, describing the victory as a proud moment for Nigeria and a landmark achievement for African women’s football.

He particularly commended Bashiru and Umejiaku for their decisive contributions while recognising the efforts of the entire squad, coaching crew, the NFF and the National Sports Commission.

The Flamingos are also expected to embark on a trophy parade through major streets of Abuja to celebrate their achievement with supporters.

However, the team’s formal reception by President Tinubu has been postponed because of his schedule, with a new date yet to be announced.

Nigeria’s triumph has added another important chapter to the country’s record in FIFA youth football and provided fresh inspiration for young girls pursuing careers in the sport.

For the players, their return represents more than a homecoming. It marks the beginning of a new chapter for Nigerian and African women’s football after a historic achievement on the global stage.