SWAN Praises Flamingos for Historic World Cup Final Spot

The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) congratulated the Nigeria U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, on their historic qualification for the final of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco. SWAN President Isaiah Benjamin praised the team following their 3-1 semi-final victory over Brazil at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat.

This victory marked Nigeria's first-ever appearance in the final of the tournament and made the Flamingos the first African team to reach this stage since the competition began. The team showcased resilience after an opening-day defeat to Poland, securing victories against Puerto Rico and North Korea, and defeating Mexico and Venezuela in the knockout rounds.

Benjamin emphasized the significance of the team's achievement, highlighting their character, discipline, and talent. He also commended head coach Hakeem Busari and the technical crew for their efforts.

The Flamingos will face Japan in the final, with FIFA recognizing their remarkable journey as the first team since 2014 to recover from an opening-match defeat and progress to the final.