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Flamingos

Flamingos make history, reach first U-17 World Cup final

Nigeria become the first African side to reach the final and will meet Japan on Saturday

Nigeria’s Flamingos have reached the final of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup for the first time after beating Brazil 3-1 in the semi-final in Sale, Morocco, on Wednesday.

Queen Joseph scored the opener and Awawu Bashiru added two more. Greise Kelly scored a late consolation for Brazil.

How the Flamingos beat Brazil

Flamingos

The match was goalless at half-time. Joseph broke the deadlock in the 56th minute, finishing from close range after a shot by Oluwakeyi Adegbuyi swerved into her path. Bashiru doubled the lead in the 71st minute and completed her brace nine minutes later, finishing a move Oluebube Umejiaku helped create. Kelly pulled one back for Brazil in the 89th minute. Match reports differ on which team-mate set up Bashiru’s goals.

Coach Akeem Busari’s side beat Brazil for the first time at this level.

Nigeria are the first African team to reach the final of the competition. Before this tournament, their best finish was third in 2022, when they lost to Colombia on penalties in the semi-final and beat Germany on penalties for bronze.

They will face Japan in the final on Saturday, 7 November. Japan beat defending champions North Korea in the other semi-final. A win would give Nigeria its first FIFA women’s world title.

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Fattyma Ibrahim

Fattyma Zahra Ibrahim is a writer, and storyteller who believes in the power of words to inform, connect, and make people think. With a love for culture, history, and stories about society, she brings curiosity and authenticity to everything she writes. Her work reflects a belief that good storytelling should not only tell a story, but also make people pause, question, and see things from a different perspective.

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