Nigeria’s Flamingos will take on Japan in the final of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Rabat, Morocco, today, with the chance to become the first African team to win the title. Kick-off is 7:30pm Nigerian time.

The Flamingos have already made history. By beating Brazil 3-1 in Wednesday’s semi-final, they became the first African side to reach the final of the competition since it began in 2008.

It comes 41 years after Nigeria’s men’s U-17 team became the first from the country and the continent to reach a FIFA World Cup final, in China in 1985. The result also guaranteed the team a medal, improving on their previous best, a third-place finish in 2022 after a penalty shootout win over Germany.

The semi-final turned in the second half. Queen Joseph broke the deadlock in the 56th minute after a pass from Oluwakemi Adegbuyi. Awawu Bashiru then added two goals, in the 71st and 80th minutes, the second set up by Oluebube Umejiaku. Brazil’s Greise Kelly pulled one back in the 89th minute, but Nigeria held on.

It has been a remarkable turnaround for a team that lost its opening game 2-1 to Poland. Coach Hakeem Busari’s side has won five matches in a row since then, including a 3-1 win over defending champions DPR Korea in the round of 16 and a 1-0 victory over Venezuela in the quarter-finals.

Japan are no easy opponents. They reached the final by beating DPR Korea 4-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw, coming from behind late in the game, and will be playing in their fourth U-17 Women’s World Cup final. The match will be the first meeting between the two countries at the tournament, and the first time they have met in a World Cup final at any level. Brazil and DPR Korea will play for third place.

Nigeria captain Chidera Harmony Chidi and her Japanese counterpart, Honoka Yotsumoto, posed with the trophy ahead of the match. Players have said they feel they are carrying the hopes of the whole continent.

Caf president Patrice Motsepe congratulated the team on reaching the final and is travelling to Rabat to watch the match. Victory would also hand Nigeria its first FIFA World Cup title in women’s football at any level.

Photo Credit: Getty Images