Nigeria Beat Japan 2-1 to Win Maiden U-17 Women's World Cup, a First for Africa
RABAT, Morocco — Nigeria beat Japan 2-1 in the final of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat on November 7, winning the tournament for the first time and becoming the first African nation to lift the trophy.
Nigeria opened the scoring in the 39th minute when Awawu Bashiru sent a dropping ball looping toward goal; Japan goalkeeper Kou Kadowaki got a hand to it but saw it squirm between her gloves and into the net. Two minutes after half-time, Esther Stephen hit a long pass forward and Oluebube Umejiaku controlled it with her left foot before lobbing the advancing goalkeeper to make it 2-0. Umejiaku was named Player of the Match.
Japan pulled one back in the 80th minute, when substitute Anri Ito headed a corner back across goal for Fuki Ito to volley in. Japan kept pressing, but Nigeria held on to the 2-1 lead until the final whistle.
"I feel good, I feel very happy. I thank God for everything. It was very difficult for us but the instructions of the coaches made us put our heads up and just take everything as it comes," Umejiaku told FIFA after the match.
Japan coach Sadayoshi Shirai said Nigeria were a very strong team, that his players fought incredibly hard until the very end and should be proud of themselves, and that their run at this World Cup will have inspired many people.
FIFA's match report described Nigeria's win as a victory for the nation and for the continent. Japan finished as runners-up.
Source: FIFA
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：2025年U17女足世界杯尼日利亚队队长与萨摩亚队队长、裁判组在赛前合影，摄于摩洛哥 Mohammed VI Football Academy（资料图，非本届决赛现场）。Wikimedia Morocco 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。/ Photo: Nigeria's captain with Samoa's captain and the match officials before a 2025 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup match at the Mohammed VI Football Academy in Morocco (file photo, not the 2026 final). By Wikimedia Morocco, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
