Nigeria’s win in Morocco hands Africa the global U-17 women’s crown and raises the bar for Ghana’s own youth girls’ teams.
Nigeria are champions of the FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup after beating Japan 2-1 in the final at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Salé, Morocco.
The result, reported by Daily Guide Network, gives Africa the title at the 2026 edition of the global tournament for girls aged 17 and under, organised by FIFA, world football's governing body.
How the final was won
Nigeria struck first in the 39th minute through Owao Bashiru, going into the break a goal up.
Two minutes after the restart, Oluyebube Omoijako doubled the lead, putting the Nigerians in firm control of the match.
Japan, who have a strong record in youth women's football, pulled one back in the 80th minute through Fuki Ito. The goal set up a tense final stretch, but the Japanese side could not find an equaliser before the whistle.
The final score stood at 2-1, with Japan taking the runners-up medals.
North Korea take third
Earlier the same day, at the same venue, North Korea beat Brazil 6-0 in the third-place playoff.
That completed the podium: Nigeria first, Japan second and North Korea third.
A 24-team tournament in Morocco
Morocco hosted the competition, which brought together 24 national teams from across the continents. The source gives the tournament dates as 17 October to 7 November, with matches staged at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Salé, near Rabat.
Hosting the event adds to Morocco's growing record of staging major international football competitions, a position the North African country has been building for several years.
What it means for Ghanaian football fans
For Ghanaians following the game at home and in the United States, a Nigerian win at this level lands close to home. West African rivalries run deep, but African success at a FIFA youth tournament is also a reference point for Ghana's own girls' teams and the structures that feed them.
Ghana has invested in women's and girls' football through national youth sides, and results like Nigeria's are often cited in debates about whether enough is being done at the grassroots: school competitions, girls' academies, coaching and scouting.
The U-17 level matters because it is where senior internationals are usually spotted. Players who shine at this tournament frequently move on to professional clubs in Europe and the United States within a few years, and several will likely be watched closely by scouts following the Morocco finals.
For the Nigerian players, the title is the highest honour available in their age group. For the rest of the continent, it is a marker of how far African girls' football has come in a competition that has often been dominated by European and Asian sides.
