Japan beaten by Nigeria for the title
Japan staged a late comeback but it wasn’t enough to prevent Nigeria from securing a 2-1 win in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2026 final on Saturday..
Japan’s first final appearance since 2016 ended in disappointment as the East Asian side left themselves too much to do after falling 2-0 behind early in the second half with Fuki Ito’s 80th minute strike ultimately unable to stop Nigeria from claiming their maiden title.
Nigeria attacked with gusto from the start and saw efforts from Awawu Bashiru and Oluebube Umejiaku fly just past the post.
A wide free-kick into the area then caused chaos in the Japan box, with Kou Kadowaki dropping the set-piece to Umejiaku, who headed against the bar.
That was, sadly for Japan, foreshadowing what was to come. Bashiru sent a dropping ball looping towards goal in the 39th minute which Kadowaki looked destined to catch, but saw it squirm between her gloves and drop into the net.
Fortune then made way for impudence as Nigeria doubled their lead two minutes after the interval. Esther Stephen hit a raking pass upfield which Umejiaku raced on to, controlled with her left before sending a delicate lob over Kadowaki.
Japan went in search of an instant reply when Nigeria goalkeeper Jane Ijirigho miscued a punch clear which fell to Wara Shimizu, whose snapshot cleared the bar.
Down the other end, the electric Umejiaku raced down the channel and bore down on Kadowaki, but the shot-stopper made a superb block with her foot to foil the No17.
Sadayoshi Shirai’s side did get a foothold with ten minutes to go, as substitute Anri Ito bravely headed a corner back across goal for her namesake Fuki to volley in but it proved to be only a consolation as Nigeria held on for the win.
In the third-place playoff, North Korea emerged triumphant with a comprehensive 6-0 win against Brazil.
The two-time reigning champions begun quickly and opened the scoring in the 12th minute when Kim Won Sim reacted quickest after Ri Ye Rim’s effort was blocked to smash in her seventh of these finals.
Ji Yun Nam’s side continued to dominate and doubled their advantage in the 44th minute after Yu Jong Hyang broke clear and fed Ri Ui Gyong, who sent a measured left-footed effort flying into the top-right corner.
North Korea’s No10 recorded another assist just past the hour, squaring for Ye Rim to coolly slot in a third. Ui Gyong added another scorcher in the 71st minute, skipping past a Brazil challenge and rifling a thunderous drive into the bottom corner. Yu then got the goal her performance deserved, in the 86th minute with Ri Kyong-im added a sixth a minute later.
North Korea finish their campaign after netting 29 goals – breaking the single-tournament record set by USA earlier in the competition.
