Nigeria beat Japan 2-1 to win historic first FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup title
Goals from Awawu Bashiru and Golden Ball winner Oluebube Umejiaku in Rabat make Nigeria the first African champions of the under-17 women's tournament.
Nigeria claimed victory over Japan in the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup final, marking a historic first for an African nation. The match took place on Saturday, November 7, at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat, Morocco. Forward Oluebube Umejiaku was instrumental in the win, scoring the decisive second-half goal that secured Nigeria's triumph and earning her the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player.
Awawu Bashiru put Nigeria ahead in the 39th minute, capitalizing on a pass from Mary Dunstan to score past Japan's goalkeeper Kou Kadowaki. Umejiaku doubled Nigeria's lead in the 47th minute, demonstrating skill and precision in her goal. Despite Japan's late effort, Nigeria's defense held strong, allowing the team to celebrate their historic win on the pitch.
This achievement made Nigeria the first African country to win the global under-17 women's tournament since its inception in 2008. North Korea secured bronze, while hosts Morocco exited early. Ghana's Black Maidens also advanced to the quarter-finals, following a group stage that featured a 3-3 draw with Brazil and a penalty shootout victory over Argentina.
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