Nigeria’s victorious Flamingos arrived in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Monday morning following their historic triumph at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup on Saturday.

The team claimed its maiden FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup title after defeating Japan 2-1 in Saturday’s final, with goals from Awawu Bashiru and Oluebube Umejiaku securing the historic victory.

The triumph made the Flamingos the first African team to win the competition.

Officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and supporters received the team at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja after its arrival in the early hours of Monday.

The victory represents another landmark achievement for a team that has established itself as one of Africa’s leading sides at the age-grade level.

Before travelling to Morocco for the tournament, the Flamingos won the 2026 WAFU-B U-17 Girls Cup in Côte d’Ivoire, recording five victories from five matches, scoring 17 goals, and conceding just once.

Head coach Hakeem Busari praised his players for their resilience and tactical discipline throughout the World Cup campaign, while expressing optimism about the future of African football.

In a post-match interview, Busari said the performances of African teams at the tournament reflected growing quality, character, and competitiveness, despite the challenges posed by strong opposition.

He noted that the Flamingos had competed in a difficult group that included the defending champions, adding that their performance demonstrated the progress being made in African women’s youth football.

“What we are seeing now is not a fluke. It is about development, it is about character, and it is about fighting from the beginning to really get it right. So we are elated and happy,” he said.

The coach also expressed hope that more African teams would advance beyond the knockout stages in future editions of the competition and eventually reach the final.

Reflecting on the Flamingos’ encounter with Japan, Busari said his technical crew had identified the Japanese team’s strength in winning second balls and exploiting spaces behind defensive lines.

He explained that the team adjusted its approach to limit Japan’s attacking opportunities, particularly by directing long balls into spaces rather than areas where the opposition could easily regain possession.

Busari said the Flamingos initially sought to score early before adopting a more cautious approach after taking the lead. Japan, however, eventually equalised through a set-piece situation.

He described the encounter as a tactical contest that demanded collective defending, discipline, and effective game management.