Flamingos arrive in Abuja after historic U-17 World Cup triumph

Famingos arrive in Abuja on Monday. Photo: Channels

Nigeria’s victorious Flamingos arrived in Abuja on Monday morning following their historic triumph at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, Channels TV reports.

The team secured its maiden title on Saturday after edging Japan 2-1 in the final, with Awawu Bashiru and Oluebube Umejiaku scoring the goals that sealed Nigeria’s victory.

The achievement also made the Flamingos the first African side to win the global age-grade competition.

Their success followed an impressive run of form before the tournament, having won the 2026 WAFU-B U-17 Girls Cup in Côte d’Ivoire with a perfect record of five wins from five matches. They scored 17 goals and conceded only once in the competition.

Head coach Hakeem Busari praised his players for their determination and tactical discipline, expressing confidence in the future of African football.

Speaking after the final, Busari said the performances of African teams at the tournament reflected improvements in quality, character and competitiveness, despite facing formidable opponents.

He said the Flamingos had navigated a challenging group that featured the defending champions, describing their campaign as evidence of the development of women’s youth football on the continent.

“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 expressed hope that more African countries would reach the latter stages of future editions of the tournament and eventually compete for the title.

Reflecting on the final against Japan, Busari said his technical team had identified the opponents’ ability to win second balls and exploit spaces behind defensive lines as key threats.

He explained that the Flamingos adjusted their tactics to restrict Japan’s attacking options by directing long passes into open spaces rather than areas where their opponents could easily recover possession.

According to him, the team initially aimed to score early but became more cautious after taking the lead. Japan, however, drew level through a set-piece situation.

Busari described the final as a tactical battle that demanded collective defending, discipline and effective management of the game.

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the Flamingos on their historic achievement, describing the victory as a moment of national pride and a significant milestone for African women’s football.

In a statement issued on Sunday by his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu said he received the news of the victory after returning from campaign engagements in Akwa Ibom and Rivers states.

“What wonderful news to return home to! Our young girls have conquered the world and given Nigerians everywhere another reason to celebrate our great country.

“To our gallant Flamingos, I say congratulations. You have shown courage, discipline, determination and the Nigerian spirit of never giving up.

“I followed your journey throughout this tournament, and after your semi-final victory, you promised to bring the trophy home. Today, you have kept that promise. You believed in yourselves, fought for one another and carried our nation’s flag to the very top of the world,” the President said.

Tinubu said the victory would inspire millions of young Nigerian girls by showing them what they could achieve through hard work, opportunity and determination.

“Today, Nigeria celebrates you. You have written your names in gold, and your country is immensely proud of you,” he added.

The President also singled out Bashiru and Umejiaku for their decisive contributions, while praising the entire squad for its teamwork throughout the competition.

He extended his congratulations to the coaching crew, the Nigeria Football Federation and the National Sports Commission for their roles in the team’s success.

Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to grassroots sports development and creating more opportunities for young Nigerians, particularly girls, to discover and develop their talents.

“Congratulations once again, Flamingos. Thank you for making Nigeria proud,” he said.