Nigeria join France as the only country to win both the men's and women's U-17 World Cups
The Golden Eaglets have five titles; the Flamingos added the women's crown in Rabat. Senator Orji Uzor Kalu says the team deserves national honours.
Abuja — The Flamingos' win at the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup has made Nigeria only the second country, after France, to win both the men's and the women's U-17 World Cups, Vanguard reported.
Five men's titles, now one women's
Nigeria's Golden Eaglets won the first edition of the men's tournament, then called the FIFA U-16 World Championship, beating West Germany 2-0 in Beijing in 1985. They won it again in 1993, 2007, 2013 and 2015, making Nigeria the most successful country in the men's competition. In 2015 they beat Mali 2-0 in Chile to become the first team to win consecutive editions.
France won the men's title in 2001, beating Nigeria 3-0 in the final in Trinidad and Tobago, and the women's in 2012 in Azerbaijan, beating North Korea on penalties.
The Flamingos' run
The Flamingos beat Japan 2-1 in the final in Rabat on Saturday, with goals from Awawu Bashiru and Oluebube Umejiaku, after losing their opening game to Poland and then winning six in a row, including a 3-1 semi-final win over Brazil. They are the first African team to win the women's tournament and the first Nigerian women's team to win a FIFA World Cup.
"They deserve to be honoured"
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, a former governor of Abia State, congratulated the team and called for national recognition. "By becoming the first African team to win the tournament, they have brought immense pride to Nigeria and deserve to be honoured for this remarkable achievement," he said. He also asked President Bola Tinubu to honour Enyimba of Aba for their CAF Champions League wins in 2003 and 2004.
