Flamingos captain Harmony Chidi targets U-17 World Cup title

Flamingos captain Harmony Chidi targeted the historic U-17 World Cup title for Nigeria. Chidi stated that lifting the trophy would be a source of pride for the players, coaches, and the country, which sought to become the first African nation to win the competition.

As the Flamingos prepared to face Japan in Saturday’s final in Morocco, Chidi expressed that winning the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup would create an unforgettable moment for Nigeria. "I think it would be a great thing, a joy, and would never be forgotten in life," she told FIFA. "Reaching the final is a very big thing, it’s a great thing, and it’s something that we have dreamed of. [Winning] would be something myself, my country, my teammates, our coaches, and everybody would be proud of."

Nigeria already made history by becoming the first African team to reach the final of the competition. A victory over Japan would elevate that achievement further by securing the continent’s first title. The Flamingos’ journey to the final was marked by a remarkable recovery after they lost 2-1 to Poland in their opening Group B match. Under coach Akeem Busari, Nigeria responded with five consecutive victories over Puerto Rico, defending champions DPR Korea, Mexico, Venezuela, and Brazil to reach the final.

Their 3-1 victory over DPR Korea represented one of the campaign’s defining moments, while the semi-final win over Brazil secured their place in the title match. Busari had declared before the tournament that Nigeria wanted to become champions, and his team now had an opportunity to fulfill that ambition against Japan.

For Chidi, however, reaching the final was only part of the dream. The captain hoped to lead her teammates to a victory that would place Nigeria and the players in a lasting position in the competition’s history. The final offered the Flamingos a chance to turn their historic campaign into an unprecedented triumph for African women’s football.