Nigeria’s triumphant U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, have arrived in Abuja following their historic victory at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.

The players and officials touched down at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in the early hours of Monday, where they were welcomed by journalists, supporters and other well-wishers who gathered to celebrate their remarkable achievement.

The Flamingos made history on Saturday after defeating Japan 2-1 in the final to become the first African country to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

The victory also secured Nigeria’s first-ever global title in women’s football, marking a significant milestone for the country’s sporting history.

Leading Nigeria’s impressive campaign was 16-year-old Oluebube Umejiaku, who emerged as the tournament’s Player of the Tournament following a series of outstanding performances.

Umejiaku won multiple Player of the Match awards and scored four goals during the competition, including the decisive strike that helped Nigeria overcome Japan in the final.

President Bola Tinubu had earlier congratulated the young champions, describing their achievement as one that extends beyond the football pitch.

The President said the victory “goes far beyond football”, adding that millions of young Nigerian girls would draw inspiration from the team's success and recognise that they could also dream big, compete internationally and excel in their chosen careers.

The Flamingos’ historic triumph has sparked celebrations among Nigerians, with the young champions earning widespread recognition for breaking new ground in African women’s football and bringing international glory to the country.