Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor
Nigeria's U-17 women's national team, the Flamingos, have been crowned champions of the 2026 WAFU-B U-17 Girls Cup after a commanding 4-0 victory over Togo in the final at the INPHB Stadium in Yamoussoukro, Côte d'Ivoire, on Sunday, completing a flawless campaign in which they won all five matches, scored 17 goals and conceded just two, becoming the first nation to win every match in the tournament's history.
The triumph is Nigeria's first-ever WAFU-B U-17 title, having dethroned Ghana, winners of the inaugural edition in 2024. The tournament, played in a league format, required Nigeria to avoid defeat in their final match to finish ahead of second-placed Ghana. Akeem Busari's side delivered far more than the minimum, producing a performance of attacking efficiency and defensive discipline that underlined their dominance throughout the competition.
Captain Harmony Chidi, who emerged as the tournament's most influential figure, opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 15th minute after Oluwakemi Adegbuyi was brought down inside the box. The trick was repeated just after the half-hour mark when Adegbuyi was fouled again, and Harmony stepped up to convert her second penalty, sending Nigeria into the interval with a comfortable 2-0 lead. The brace took her tournament tally to a remarkable level and confirmed her status as one of the standout players of the championship.
The third goal arrived in the 67th minute through Oluebube Umejiaku, whose mishit cross sailed over the Togolese goalkeeper and into the top far corner. The 16-year-old striker, who had come off the bench, produced one of the highlights of the match with an effort that caught the goalkeeper off guard. Oluwakemi Adegbuyi, who had already played a decisive role in winning both penalties, capped her impressive individual performance with a simple tap-in in the 90th minute following a goalkeeping error, sealing a comprehensive 4-0 victory.
The win completed a remarkable campaign for the Flamingos, who opened with a 5-0 victory over Niger Republic before defeating perennial rivals Ghana 4-2, overcoming Burkina Faso 2-0 and sweeping past hosts Côte d'Ivoire 2-0. Nigeria finished with 15 points from five matches, becoming the first team to win all its matches in WAFU-B U-17 women's tournament history. The victory provides a major boost for Coach Hakeem Busari and his players as they continue preparations for the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Morocco next month.
The Acting General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, praised the team's performance and expressed confidence that the Flamingos can carry their winning momentum into the global tournament. "The Flamingos have done very well, made the nation proud, and I have this faith in the players that they are not done yet," Ikpeme said. "I have confidence in the team to go to Morocco and achieve great things at the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup that is starting next month. It is no mean feat to win five matches out of five in a tournament. That is a distinction." He added that the NFF was appreciative of the WAFU-B headquarters for organising the tournament as a premium preparatory event for the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, and that the Flamingos had benefited immensely ahead of the global competition.
Nigeria will now shift focus to the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, scheduled to take place from October 17 to November 7, 2026, in Morocco. The Flamingos, bronze medallists at the 2022 edition, are drawn in Group B alongside defending champions North Korea, Poland and Puerto Rico. They will begin their campaign against Poland on October 17 in Salé. The team's performance in Côte d'Ivoire has raised expectations that they can improve on their 2022 bronze medal and challenge for the title in Morocco.
The Flamingos are expected to return to Nigeria on Tuesday, where they will be received by officials of the Nigeria Football Federation before resuming preparations for the World Cup. The victory has been widely celebrated across the country, with football stakeholders praising the team's discipline, attacking flair and defensive solidity. For Coach Busari, the WAFU-B title represents the culmination of months of preparation and a vindication of his approach to building a team capable of competing at the highest level. For Nigerian football, the triumph is a timely reminder of the depth of talent in the country's women's football pipeline and a source of optimism ahead of a busy international calendar that includes the senior women's team's own continental and global commitments.
The Flamingos' achievement also highlights the importance of sub-regional tournaments as preparation for global competitions. The WAFU-B U-17 Girls Cup provided the team with competitive matches against regional rivals, exposure to different styles of play and the opportunity to build cohesion and confidence. The NFF has emphasised the value of such tournaments in developing young players, and the Flamingos' performance suggests that the investment in age-grade competitions is yielding dividends. As Nigeria prepares for the World Cup in Morocco, the team will carry with it the momentum of a perfect campaign and the belief that it can compete with the best in the world. For now, the Flamingos can savour a historic triumph, one that has placed them at the summit of West African women's youth football and raised hopes of a memorable World Cup campaign to come.
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