Flamingos are world champions! Nigeria beat Japan 2-1 to win U-17 Women's World Cup

Nigeria's Flamingos have made history, beating Japan 2-1 in the final of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Rabat, Morocco, on Saturday night to become the first African team ever to win the competition.

Awawu Bashiru opened the scoring shortly before half-time, firing a long-range shot that Japan goalkeeper Kou Kadowaki could not hold. It was her third goal of the tournament, after her double against Brazil in the semi-final.

Two minutes after the break, Oluebube Umejiaku doubled the lead, lifting the ball over the advancing goalkeeper. Japan, champions in 2014, fought back and Fuki Ito pulled a goal back with ten minutes left, but the Flamingos held on through four minutes of added time. Nigeria had also hit the crossbar in the first half.

Watching from the stands at the Mohammed VI Football Complex were FIFA's president, Gianni Infantino, and his CAF counterpart, Patrice Motsepe.

It completes a remarkable turnaround for Akeem Busari's side, who lost their first match 2-1 to Poland. They then won six games in a row, beating Puerto Rico, defending champions North Korea, Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil and now Japan. Nigeria's previous best finish was third place in 2022.

Celebrations broke out across Nigeria and among Nigerians abroad as the final whistle blew. It is the country's first world title at women's youth level, and comes a day after PauseandPonderTV's matchday report in which captain Harmony Chidi said victory would bring a joy the nation would never forget.

UPDATE: President Bola Tinubu congratulated the team in a statement from his adviser, Bayo Onanuga. "What wonderful news to return home to! Our young girls have conquered the world," he said, adding that the players had written their names in gold. He also praised the coaches, the Nigeria Football Federation and the National Sports Commission, and said his government remained committed to developing grassroots sport, especially for girls.