Nigeria’s Flamingos win U-17 World Cup, securing $100 million reward

Nigeria's U-17 women's national football team, the Flamingos, secured the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup title in Rabat, Morocco, marking the first time an African nation has won the tournament. The team defeated Japan 2-1 in the final, concluding a campaign that included a 3-1 semi-final victory over Brazil.

Following the victory, the Nigerian government announced financial incentives for the squad. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu awarded each player 100 million naira, while the Senate separately approved a 100 million naira grant for the team. Senate President Godwill Akpabio praised the players for their performance against global competitors, urging increased investment in women's sports development.

Midfielder Oluebube Umejiaku received the FIFA Golden Ball as the tournament's best player. Under the guidance of head coach Akeem Busari, the team overcame an initial setback to win six consecutive matches. The victory is considered a milestone for Nigerian women's sports, following the established success of the senior Super Falcons and the U-20 Falconets in international competitions.

Legislators and officials, including Sports Commission, have highlighted the win as evidence of the need for continued foundational investment in female athletics. The team's performance is viewed as a shift in the landscape of African football, where women's teams have increasingly challenged traditional global powerhouses.