Flamingos arrive Abuja, set for World Cup trophy parade

By Tosin Omojola

The 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup champions, Nigeria’s Flamingos, arrived in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) early Monday morning from Morocco and are expected to parade the coveted trophy around Abuja today.

The Nigerian delegation departed Morocco in the early hours of Monday aboard Royal Air Maroc flight AT587, a Boeing 737 MAX, which landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at 5:50 a.m. local time.

The team was subsequently taken to a hotel to freshen up ahead of the scheduled activities.

The victorious Flamingos are expected to embark on a roadshow later today, taking the trophy through major streets of Abuja, including Eagle Square at the Federal Secretariat in the Central Business District, Julius Berger Roundabout, Wuse Market, Maitama, Asokoro and Apo districts.

Meanwhile, the official reception for the World Cup winners by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will hold at a later date, as the President’s busy schedule, including his ongoing campaign tour, may prevent an immediate hosting of the team.

Sources close to the Presidency and the National Sports Commission (NSC) confirmed that efforts were being made to secure the earliest possible date for the President to receive the victorious players and officials.

The Flamingos defeated Japan’s Little Nadeshiko 2-1 in an exciting final of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup to become the first African nation to win the competition.