5 records Flamingos broke with Nigeria’s historic U-17 Women’s World Cup title win

Nigeria’s Flamingos made history on Saturday, November 7, after beating Japan 2-1 in the final of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Rabat, Morocco.

Goals from Awawu Bashiru and Oluebube Umejiaku secured Nigeria’s first title in the competition and made them the first African nation to win the women’s U-17 World Cup.

The victory also ended Africa’s wait for a FIFA women’s world title at any level.

Beyond winning the trophy, the Flamingos set several records, including joining France as the only countries to have won both the men’s and women’s U-17 World Cups.

Here are five records Nigeria set with their triumph in Morocco.

Japan 🆚 Nigeria#U17WWC pic.twitter.com/BxHQdtR4DG

— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) November 7, 2026

New Flamingos records at FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup

1. Nigeria become the first African country to win the women’s U-17 World Cup

Nigeria became the first African country to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup after defeating Japan 2-1 in the final.

Since the competition began in 2008, no African nation had won the trophy or reached the final. Several African teams had featured in previous editions, but none had gone as far as the Flamingos did in Morocco.

Nigeria ended that wait with their victory over Japan, giving the continent its first champion in the competition.

2. Flamingos become the first African women’s national team to win a FIFA World Cup

The Flamingos’ victory also made Nigeria the first African country to win a FIFA World Cup title in women’s football at any level.

Before Saturday’s final, no African women’s national team had won a FIFA World Cup, despite the continent’s long history of participation in the competitions.

The senior Super Falcons have represented Africa at several Women’s World Cups, while the U-20 Falconets have also come close to winning a world title.

The Falconets finished runners-up at the 2010 and 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cups but lost both finals.

The Flamingos have now gone one step further, beating Japan to give Nigeria and Africa their first women’s FIFA World Cup title.

3. Nigeria win their first FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup title

The victory over Japan gave Nigeria, who receive no cash prize for the win, their first-ever FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup title.

Awawu Bashiru opened the scoring in the 39th minute with a long-range effort that slipped through the hands of Japanese goalkeeper Kou Kadowaki.

Nigeria doubled their lead two minutes after the restart when tournament MVP and Golden Ball winner Oluebube Umejiaku chipped the goalkeeper in the 47th minute.

Umejiaku had chased down a long pass from defender Esther Stephen before producing the finish. Japan pulled one back through Fuki Ito in the 80th minute, setting up a tense finish.

However, the Flamingos held on through five minutes of stoppage time to secure the 2-1 victory and their maiden world title.

About last night…🤩#U17WWC pic.twitter.com/bEpXNNWlqR

— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) November 8, 2026

4. Nigeria join France as the only countries to win both men’s and women’s U-17 World Cups

Nigeria become the second country to win both the men’s and women’s FIFA U-17 World Cups after their victory in Morocco.

France were the first to achieve the feat. They won the men’s competition in 2001 before lifting the women’s trophy in 2012.

Nigeria have dominated the men’s U-17 World Cup over the years, winning the competition five times. The Golden Eaglets claimed their first title in 1985 before adding further championships in 1993, 2007, 2013 and 2015.

However, Nigeria had never won the women’s competition until the Flamingos defeated Japan in the 2026 final.

The victory takes Nigeria’s total number of FIFA U-17 World Cup titles across both competitions to six, making them the first African country to complete the double.

5. Flamingos become the first team to win the tournament after losing their opening match

Nigeria also set a record by becoming the first team to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup after losing their opening match.

The Flamingos started their 2026 campaign with a 2-1 defeat to Poland in the group stage, leaving them with work to do in their remaining fixtures.

They responded with six consecutive victories to reach the final and eventually lift the trophy.

Their winning run included a group-stage victory over defending champions North Korea and a 3-1 semi-final win against Brazil. The Flamingos then defeated Japan 2-1 in the final to complete their remarkable recovery from the opening-day defeat.

No previous champion had lost its first match and still gone on to win the tournament.

Nigeria’s triumph in Morocco will therefore be remembered not only for ending Africa’s wait for a women’s FIFA World Cup title but also for the records the Flamingos set on their way to lifting the trophy.