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 historic triumph in Morocco.
Gatekeepers News reports that the 16-year-old forward received the adidas Golden Ball award following Nigeria’s 2-1 victory over Japan in Saturday’s final in Rabat.
Umejiaku played a decisive role in the final, scoring Nigeria’s second goal in the 47th minute after Awawu Bashiru had opened the scoring in the 39th minute.
Japan reduced the deficit through Fuki Ito in the 80th minute, but the Nigerian side held on to secure its first-ever title in the competition.
According to FIFA, Umejiaku’s award recognised her outstanding performances throughout the tournament, where she scored four goals, including the decisive strike in the final.
Her contributions also helped Nigeria recover from an opening 2-1 defeat to Poland before progressing through the knockout stages to lift the trophy.
Speaking after the final, Umejiaku said she had remained hopeful of getting her opportunity to start for the team.
She said, “Every time I went to training and every time I slept, I told God that I’m praying for all the people that are starting. But when I wanted to start, I just told God that it is my time.”
The Nigerian forward’s recognition was among several individual awards presented at the tournament.
North Korea’s Yu Jong-hyang won the Silver Ball, while Japan’s Fuki Ito received the Bronze Ball.
United States forward Maddie DiMaria claimed the Golden Boot after finishing as the competition’s leading scorer with 12 goals.
North Korea goalkeeper Kim Son-gyong won the Golden Glove, while Japan received the FIFA Fair Play Trophy.
Nigeria’s victory also made the Flamingos the first African team to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup since the competition began in 2008.
The achievement further established Nigeria as the first African country to win the FIFA U-17 World Cup in both the men’s and women’s categories.
