- It’s Nigeria 2-1 Japan
- Nigeria goals: Awawu Bashiru (39), Oluebube Umejaiku (47)
- Japan goal: Fuki Ito (80)
- Player of the Match: Oluebube Umejaiku (NGA)
In a nail-biting showdown that pushed them to their absolute limits, Nigeria’s under-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, weathered a relentless, final-minute Japanese onslaught to secure a historic maiden FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup crown.
The breakthrough came in the 39th minute when the Japanese goalkeeper fumbled with Awawu Bashiru’s long volley which dropped effortlessly into the net to the chagrin of her team-mates.
Early in the second half, Oluebube Umejaiku found the back of the net to make it 2-0, etching Nigeria’s name into the record books as the resilient Flamingos kept their cool to bring Africa its first-ever trophy at this prestigious global tournament.
Impressively, the Coach Akeem Busari’s Babes held their nerves to survive the late Japan fightback which produced a solitary goal in the 80th when Fuki Ito scored from close range after the Nigerian girls failed to properly deal with a corner kick.
A second-half Oluebube Umejaiku goal proved the difference as Nigeria edged Japan to clinch a maiden FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup™ crown, and a first title for an African nation at this event.
Nigeria had attacked with gusto from the start and saw efforts from Awawu Bashiru and Umejaiku fly just past the post. A wide free-kick into the area then caused chaos in the Japan box, with Kou Kadowaki dropping the set-piece to Umejaiku, who headed against the bar.
Sadly for Japan, that was foreshadowing what was to come. Bashiru sent a dropping ball looping towards goal which Kadowaki looked destined to catch, but saw it squirm between her gloves and drop into the net.
Fortune then made way for impudence as Nigeria doubled their lead. Esther Stephen hit a raking pass upfield which Umejaiku raced on to, controlled with her left before sending a delicate lob over Kadowaki.
Japan went in search of an instant reply when Nigeria goalkeeper Jane Ijirigho miscued a punch clear which fell to Wara Shimizu, whose snapshot cleared the bar. Down the other end, the electric Umejaiku raced down the channel and bore down on Kadowaki, but the shot-stopper made a superb block with her foot to foil the Number 17.
With ten minutes left on the clock, Sadayoshi Shirai’s side finally conjured a lifeline. Rising bravely above the chaos, substitute Anri Ito cushioned a corner back across the face of goal, setting up her namesake Fuki to unleash a thunderous, defiant volley into the Nigerian net for their consolatory strike.
However, the Japanese resurrection was cut short by the referee’s final whistle. As the final whistle echoed through Rabat, it was Nigeria who sparked a continent-wide celebration, hoisting the torch of African triumph high into the Moroccan sky.
