Nigeria's Flamingos make history with U-17 World Cup win

On November 7, Nigeria’s Flamingos triumphed over Japan 2-1 in Rabat, Morocco, securing the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. This victory makes Nigeria the first African nation to win this global title, joining France as the only countries to have won both the men’s and women’s U-17 World Cups.

The Flamingos returned to Nigeria on November 9 to a celebratory welcome. Despite the accolades, there are concerns regarding the future of these young players, as many past teenage stars have struggled to maintain their careers due to poor management and other challenges.

Historically, Nigeria has excelled in youth tournaments but has not achieved similar success at the U-20 level, with the Flying Eagles only earning two silver medals and one bronze since 1983. To prevent the current Flamingos squad from facing similar fates, the Nigeria Football Federation has committed to preserving the core of the team, with 11 players eligible for the next U-17 competition.