Nigeria Becomes First African Nation To Win Both FIFA U-17 Men’s and Women’s World Cups

Nigeria Becomes First African Nation To Win Both FIFA U-17 Men’s and Women’s World Cups

Nigeria has written another remarkable chapter in football history after the Flamingos became the first African nation to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, following their 2-1 victory over Japan in Saturday’s final in Morocco, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The historic achievement places Nigeria in a unique position as the only African country to have won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in both the men’s and women’s categories.

The triumph brings back memories of the Golden Eaglets’ remarkable success in the men’s competition, where Nigeria established itself as a global force in youth football.

The Golden Eaglets won their first FIFA U-17 World Cup title in 1985 before securing subsequent championships in 1993, 2007, 2013 and 2025.

Interestingly, the 1993 final also ended in a 2-1 victory for Nigeria, although their opponents were Ghana, but the trophy was won in Japan.

More than three decades after that second triumph, the Flamingos have now delivered another historic milestone, defeating Japan to secure Nigeria’s first-ever FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup title.

The achievement underscores Nigeria’s remarkable record in youth football and represents a significant breakthrough for African women’s football.

With the Golden Eaglets’ five men’s titles and the Flamingos’ maiden women’s crown, Nigeria has further strengthened its reputation as one of the leading nations in global youth football.

Nigeria’s road to the final was not easy. The team began the tournament with a 2-1 defeat to Poland but bounced back with important victories over Puerto Rico, defending champions North Korea, Mexico, Venezuela and Brazil.

Their biggest achievement came in the semi-final, where they defeated Brazil 3-1, with Queen Joseph and Bashiru leading the way. The victory secured Nigeria’s first-ever appearance in the final.

Japan reached the final after defeating North Korea in a dramatic semi-final encounter that was decided by a penalty shootout.

The victory marks a historic moment for Nigerian women’s football and a major achievement for African football, as the Flamingos lift their first FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup trophy.