Nigeria’s Oluebube Umejiaku has been named the best player of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup after inspiring the Flamingos to their first-ever title.
The 16-year-old Heartland Queens forward received the Golden Ball after scoring three goals and providing two assists during the tournament. She also found the net in Nigeria’s 2-1 final victory over Japan on Saturday at Morocco’s Mohammed VI Football Complex.
Umejiaku made a decisive impact throughout Nigeria’s campaign, contributing to goals in all seven matches as the Flamingos bounced back from an opening defeat to Poland to lift the trophy.
She scored against Poland, DPR Korea and Mexico, assisted against Puerto Rico and Brazil, and won a penalty in the quarter-final triumph over Venezuela.
In the final, Awawu Bashiru gave Nigeria the lead in the 39th minute before Umejiaku doubled it two minutes after the break. Japan’s Fuki Ito pulled a goal back in the 80th minute, but the Flamingos held on to seal the historic win.
Nigeria became the first African nation to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and the first to claim titles in both the men’s and women’s U-17 competitions.
Meanwhile, United States forward Maddie DiMaria won the Golden Boot, finishing as the tournament’s top scorer with 12 goals.
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