Francis Dufugha
….Nigeria to face Japan in historic title clash in Morocco
Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, have made history by qualifying for their first-ever FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup final after defeating Brazil 3-1 in a thrilling semi-final encounter in Morocco.
The Nigerian youngsters produced an impressive second-half performance on Wednesday night at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Salé, scoring three goals to overcome their South American opponents and move within one victory of lifting the trophy for the first time.
After a goalless first half, the Flamingos returned with renewed determination and took control of the encounter through Queen Joseph, who opened the scoring in the 56th minute.
Joseph capitalised on a well-delivered assist from Oluwakemi Adegbuyi to put Nigeria ahead, rewarding the team’s attacking pressure after several attempts to break Brazil’s defensive resistance.
Nigeria doubled their advantage in the 71st minute when substitute Awawu Bashiru found the back of the net, finishing off a pass from Joseph to give the Flamingos a comfortable 2-0 lead.
Bashiru, who was making her first start in the tournament, was not finished. She completed her brace in the 80th minute, converting a delivery from Oluebube Umejiaku to extend Nigeria’s advantage to 3-0 and put the semi-final beyond Brazil’s reach.
Brazil managed to reduce the deficit in the 89th minute through Greise Kelly, who headed home following an assist from Yasmin Queiroz. However, the late goal proved insufficient to change the outcome as Nigeria held on for a memorable 3-1 victory.
The result represents a landmark achievement for the Flamingos, who have now secured their first appearance in the final of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
The Flamingos’ victory was not merely a product of clinical finishing but also reflected their dominance throughout the encounter.
According to FIFA match statistics, Nigeria registered 35 attempts on goal compared with Brazil’s seven, underlining the attacking superiority of the Nigerian side.
Brazil managed just one shot on target, which resulted in their late consolation goal.
Bashiru’s outstanding contribution earned her the Player of the Match award after scoring twice on her first start of the competition.
Speaking after the encounter, an excited Queen Joseph described reaching the final as a great privilege, saying the team was proud to make history and represent not only Nigeria but the African continent.
Head coach Akeem Busari also praised his players for their courage, character and determination against a technically gifted Brazilian side.
He said the team had worked hard to disrupt Brazil’s passing game and deserved the victory for their disciplined performance.
The Flamingos’ journey to the final has been remarkable, considering that their campaign began with a 2-1 defeat to Poland in the group stage.
Rather than allowing the setback to derail their ambition, Busari’s girls regrouped and recorded victories over Puerto Rico and defending champions North Korea to advance from their group.
They subsequently defeated Mexico 2-1 in the round of 16 before overcoming Venezuela 1-0 in the quarter-finals to book their semi-final ticket.
Their 3-1 victory over Brazil has now completed an extraordinary turnaround, making Nigeria the first team to recover from an opening-match defeat and progress to the final of the competition.
The Flamingos had previously reached the semi-finals in 2022, when they finished third in India, winning the bronze medal. Their achievement in Morocco therefore represents a significant improvement on their previous best performance.
JAPAN AWAIT NIGERIA IN THE FINAL
Nigeria will now face Japan in the final scheduled for Saturday, November 7, 2026, in what promises to be a fascinating contest between two of the tournament’s outstanding teams.
Japan booked their place in the final after defeating North Korea 4-1 on penalties following a 1-1 draw at the end of regulation time.
The final will provide the Flamingos with an opportunity to win their first-ever U-17 Women’s World Cup title and create another landmark moment in Nigerian and African women’s football.
For Coach Busari and his players, the mission is now clear: maintain their impressive form, approach the final with confidence and determination, and bring the trophy home.
Nigeria’s historic qualification has already secured a place for the Flamingos in the record books. A victory over Japan would crown their remarkable journey with a maiden world title.
The hopes of a nation and the pride of African football will be behind the Flamingos as they prepare for Saturday’s historic final.
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