Flamingos

FIFA’s Infantino And CAF’s Motsepe Give Same Verdict About Flamingos’ Achievement; Both Declare: ‘It’s No Fluke’

Published

6 hours ago

November 10, 2026

As reactions continue trailing Nigeria’s 2-1 victory over Japan in the final of this year’s FIFA Women’s U-17 World Cup in Rabat, Morocco, two highly placed administrators have asserted that it was not a fluke result.

Sports247 reports that this verdict came from FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, along with Confederation of African Football (CAF) supremo, Patrice Motsepe, who both declared that the Nigerian squad deserved their historic conquest on Saturday.

Infantino and Motsepe also spoke eloquently about the future prospects of the Nigerian players, who they noted showed immense potential to achieve even greater things for the country and themselves in years to come.

This much was disclosed by the acting general-secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, who said Infantino and Motsepe personally told him that they were hugely impressed with the Flamingos’ performances in all their matches during the competition.

Ikpeme recounted while addressing the Flamingos on their return to Abuja in the early hours of Monday: “The FIFA President and the CAF President told me at different times that you all have done well and that your triumph was no fluke.”

The NFF’s acting scribe then provided his personal view about the epochal outing by Nigeria’s female cadet national team at Morocco 2026, where he recalled that they lost their first match 2-1 against Poland but bounced back to win six games on the trot.

The biggest of those victories came with the same 3-1 scoreline – against then back-to-back defending champions, DPR Korea in their last group match and versus eternal favourites Brazil in the semi-final.

With Coach Akeem Ishola Busari’s side having also defeated Puerto Rico 2-0, Mexico 2-1 and Venezuela 1-0 before silencing Brazil and Japan in their last two matches, Ikpeme concluded that the Flamingos deserved all the encomiums that are coming their way.

“You won it as a result of better performance. You played your opponents hands down and dominated right from your second match until the end. After narrowly losing your first match, you changed your game for the better.

“You won the following six matches convincingly to lift the trophy. You showed the world the gulf in class between you and the other teams,” Ikpeme acknowledged with a tone of pride.

Sports247 gathered that Ikpeme addressed the squad at the hotel in Abuja where the Flamingos were lodged on arrival from Rabat, as they await details of a presidential reception being planned for them.

The post FIFA’s Infantino And CAF’s Motsepe Give Same Verdict About Flamingos’ Achievement; Both Declare: ‘It’s No Fluke’ appeared first on Sports247 Nigeria.

Flamingos

Miracle in Morocco: What Argentina Did During World Cup In Qatar, Flamingos Will Repeat This Year, Queen Joseph Predicts

Published

5 days ago

November 5, 2026

Elliot Michael

Memory has been refreshed with how Argentina romped back from a shock loss to Saudi Arabia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and went on to defeat Kylian Mbappe’s France via penalties in an epic final.

Sports247 reports that this reminder has come from a player in the history chasing Nigerian female cadet national team, Flamingos, who lost their first match of the ongoing FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco – but they are now in the final!

A stunning 3-1 victory over Brazil in Wednesday’s semi-final secured a first ever final at this level for the Nigerian squad and the scorer of their first goal in that game, Queen Joseph says what Argentina did in Qatar the Flamingos will repeat on Saturday.

Her reference arises from the fact that the Flamingos lost their opening match of this championship 2-1 against Poland, who have since been sent packing, thereby leaving Joseph and her teammates on the edge of a historic conquest on the Female Cadet Mundial against Japan on Saturday.

The enterprising lass from Fosla Football Academy of Abuja, who was well-celebrated by the team last year, despite falling heavily with the Flamingos against Italy in the round of 16, is now eagerly looking forward to Saturday’s final, with strong hope of winning it.

Joseph, who adorns jersey number 12, went on to acknowledge that the upcoming final of Morocco 2026 for the Flamingos is something she will cherish forever, then pointed out that it is also something all Africans must be proud of.

“I feel very happy. Representing my country in the final is a big privilege for me. I’m super proud of myself and my team, because we made history. We are not here just representing Nigeria, we are here representing Africa as a whole,” Joseph roared with delight.

She then recalled how Argentina lost their Qatar 2022 opener against Saudi Arabia before going on to win the World Cup, thereby becoming the second nation to achieve that feat, following Spain at South Africa 2010, and Joseph says it’s the Flamingos’ turn to pull off the same resurgence.

Incidentally, despite losing their opening game of this championship to Poland, Nigeria has become the second nation since 2014 to recover and reach the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup final, heading into which Joseph believes their demolition of Brazil gives them enough morale to pick the trophy on Saturday.

“We took the Argentina spirit from the World Cup … after losing our first game. They came back and won the trophy. So, we are also hoping, through God Almighty, that we are going to win this trophy. I feel very happy. Playing in the final is a big privilege,” an ecstatic Joseph reiterated with a strong air of optimism.

The post Miracle in Morocco: What Argentina Did During World Cup In Qatar, Flamingos Will Repeat This Year, Queen Joseph Predicts appeared first on Sports247 Nigeria.

Flamingos

Harmony Chidi Leads Flamingos’ World Cup Charge in Morocco

Published

1 month ago

October 7, 2026

Kenny Malone

‎Harmony Chidi will captain Nigeria’s Flamingos at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup as the young forward prepares to return to the global stage with a bigger role in Akeem Busari’s squad.
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‎Chidi is one of 21 players selected by Busari for the tournament in Morocco, where Nigeria will begin its Group B campaign against Poland on October 17. They will then face Puerto Rico on October 20 before taking on DPR Korea three days later.
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‎The captain is not new to the World Cup stage. FIFA identified Chidi as Nigeria’s player to watch ahead of the tournament, noting that she scored for the Flamingos at the 2024 edition in the Dominican Republic when she was only 14.
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‎Her form has also made her one of the keys attacking figures in the current Flamingos team. FIFA reports that Chidi scored five goals during Nigeria’s World Cup qualifying campaign before adding three more during the WAFU-B U17 Girls’ Cup in September.
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‎That recent form will give Busari an important attacking option as Nigeria prepares for a difficult Group B, particularly with DPR Korea entering the tournament as the reigning champions.
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The Flamingos secured their place in Morocco after defeating Benin 8-5 on aggregate in the final round of African qualifying.

They followed that achievement by winning the WAFU-B title, giving Busari and his players further competitive preparation before the World Cup.
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‎Nigeria will now travel to Morocco with Chidi carrying both the captain’s armband and the expectations that come with being one of the team’s leading attacking players.
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‎The Flamingos are scheduled to depart Nigeria on Wednesday, October 7, ahead of their opening match against Poland on October 17.
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‎For Nigeria, the target will be to navigate Group B and continue the country’s strong record at the competition, where the Flamingos claimed a historic bronze medal in 2022.

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