U17 women's football: Nigerian champions arrive in Abuja
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Punch
Nigeria's Flamingos, world champions in U17 women's football, arrived in Abuja on Monday after their 2-1 win over Japan in the final. Nigeria became the first African country to win this global youth competition, Channels TV reports, cited by Punch.
The Flamingos, Nigeria's women's under-17 team, arrived in Abuja on Monday morning after their 2-1 victory over Japan in the final of the U17 Women's World Cup in Morocco, Channels TV reports, cited by Punch. Nigeria won its first world title in this category thanks to goals from Awawu Bashiru and Oluebube Umejiaku.
The success makes the Flamingos the first African team to win this global competition. Before the tournament, Hakeem Busari's team had won the WAFU-B U17 Cup in Ivory Coast with five wins in five matches, 17 goals scored and just one conceded.
Hakeem Busari explained that his team had identified second balls and spaces behind the Japanese defence as the main threats. After taking the lead, the Nigerians controlled the game more and directed their long passes towards open spaces to limit Japan's attacking opportunities, according to comments by the coach reported by Punch.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu congratulated the Flamingos on their world title, described as a moment of national pride. The return to Abuja comes after several stages of the campaign, including the world final victory announced on 7 November and the global Ballon d'Or won by Oluebube Umejiaku on the same day.
