HISTORY: Flamingos Stun Brazil 3-1 to Reach First-Ever U17 Women's World Cup Final

Nigeria's Flamingos have made history. A ruthless second-half performance gave them a 3-1 victory over Brazil in Rabat on Wednesday, sending the country into the final of the FIFA U17 Women's World Cup for the first time ever, and making Nigeria the first African team ever to reach the final of the competition.

It was a win built on nerve, discipline and devastating finishing. Brazil had the ball, the shots and the corners. Nigeria had the goals.

A goalless first half, then the floodgates

The first half ended 0-0, with Brazil piling on the pressure and Nigeria holding their shape. The Flamingos survived the storm, and eleven minutes into the second half, they struck.

In the 56th minute, Oluwakemi Adegbuyi set up Queen Joseph, who finished calmly to give Nigeria a 1-0 lead and send the Nigerian bench into celebration.

Fifteen minutes later, it was 2-0. Joseph turned provider this time, creating the chance for Awawu Bashiru to finish after a VAR review, and the Flamingos had daylight.

Bashiru was not finished. In the 80th minute, the 16-year-old completed her brace, converting Oluebube Umejiaku's assist to make it 3-0 and effectively seal Nigeria's place in the final.

Brazil finally found a way through in the 89th minute, Greise Kelly pulling one back from Yasmin Queiroz's assist, but it was no more than a consolation. The Flamingos saw out the closing moments to complete a famous 3-1 victory.

Goals:

• Queen Joseph 56' (Nigeria)
• Awawu Bashiru 71', 80' (Nigeria)
• Greise Kelly 89' (Brazil)

Ruthless beats dominant

The statistics tell the story of how remarkable this win was. Brazil dominated the shot count and won corner after corner, yet Nigeria scored with almost every clear chance they created. It was the classic smash-and-grab, except Nigeria's goals were no accident: a composed finish from Joseph, a brace from Bashiru, and assists from three different players.

Joseph was the heartbeat of the win, a goal and an assist. Bashiru, who came into the starting line-up for this match, delivered the brace that broke Brazil. And Umejiaku, who won the late penalty against Venezuela in the quarter-final, was there again, setting up the third.

The road to the final

This final appearance has been earned the hard way. Nigeria lost their opening group game 2-1 to Poland, then responded with wins over Puerto Rico and defending champions Korea DPR to reach the knockout rounds.

In the Round of 16, they beat Mexico 2-1. In the quarter-final, captain Azeezat Oduntan converted an 89th-minute penalty, won by Umejiaku, to edge Venezuela 1-0. And now Brazil, beaten 3-1 in the semi-final.

Nigeria's previous best finish at this tournament was third place at India 2022, where they lost the semi-final to Colombia on penalties before beating Germany on penalties to claim bronze. This team has now gone two steps further than any Nigerian side before them, and one step further than any African side in the history of the competition.

Japan await on Saturday

Nigeria's reward is a place in Saturday's final against Japan, at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat, on 7 November 2026.

Japan reached the final the dramatic way, scoring a stoppage-time equaliser against defending champions Korea DPR, a Won Sol-gyong own goal in the 95th minute after Ri Ui-gyong had given the Koreans a 52nd-minute lead, before winning the penalty shootout 4-1. It is Japan's first appearance in the final since 2016, when they lost to Korea DPR on penalties, and the Japanese won the tournament back in 2014.

Brazil and Korea DPR will meet in the third-place match earlier on Saturday.

For the Flamingos, one match now stands between them and immortality. Win on Saturday, and they become the first African champions in the history of the FIFA U17 Women's World Cup. Nigeria has waited a long time for a world title at this level. These girls are now 90 minutes away from delivering it.

Do you believe the Flamingos can go all the way? Let us know in the comments.