Nigeria’s U-17 women’s football team returned to Abuja on Monday with the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup trophy, becoming the first African side to win the tournament.
Footage shows the Flamingos leaving Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport with the trophy, posing for selfies with fans and boarding their team bus as a brass band welcomes the players.
“They have to have the three Ds: determination, dedication and discipline,” said Flamingos coach Akeem Busari.
“And equally, all the feats you really want to achieve should not just be in your mind. Work towards achieving them,” he added.
Sports analyst Undoubtedly Tehileru praised the team’s progress throughout the tournament.
“And they were improving with each game. Yeah, they lost the first game, but the second one, they put them down,” she said.
“And this is the first team in Africa to have ever won the Women’s Under-17 World Cup and gotten to the final, and it’s only Nigeria,” she added.
Nigeria defeated Japan 2-1 in Saturday’s final in Rabat, Morocco, with goals from Awawu Bashiru and Oluebube Umejiaku. Umejiaku scored the winner and claimed the tournament’s Golden Ball award.
The Flamingos bounced back from an opening defeat to Poland to become the first African women’s team to win a FIFA World Cup at any age level.
Source: Viory
