Nigeria’s Oluebube Umejiaku has been named the best player of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, claiming the tournament’s Golden Ball award after a campaign that ended in historic triumph for the Flamingos.
The 16-year-old striker received the honour on Saturday, shortly after helping Nigeria secure their first-ever title at the competition with a 2-1 victory over Japan in the final. Her performances throughout the tournament made her one of the most influential figures in the Nigerian squad and ultimately earned her the top individual prize.
A Decisive Contribution in the Final
Umejiaku scored four goals during Nigeria’s run to the title, including the decisive strike in the final against Japan. That goal proved enough to separate her from the rest of the field in the race for the Golden Ball, finishing ahead of North Korea’s Yu Jong-hyang, who took the Silver Ball, and Japan’s Fuki Ito, who received the Bronze Ball.
FIFA described the Nigerian forward as an electric presence in attack and the star of the show in the final, noting that she was instrumental in her country’s historic triumph. Her ability to deliver in high-pressure moments became a defining feature of Nigeria’s campaign.
From the Bench to the Spotlight
What makes Umejiaku’s rise to the tournament’s best player particularly remarkable is that she began Nigeria’s campaign on the bench. She came on as a substitute and scored in the Flamingos’ opening match against Poland, although Nigeria lost that game 2-1.
From there, she established herself as an important member of the team, scoring against North Korea, Mexico and Japan as Nigeria recovered from their opening defeat to go all the way and win the competition. Her goal against Japan in the final secured Nigeria’s place in the history books as the first African country to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
Reflecting on a Historic Run
Speaking after the final, Umejiaku said she had prayed for her opportunity to shine at the tournament. She explained that she had spent time praying for the players who were starting ahead of her, and when her own chance arrived, she told God that it was her time.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s opening defeat to Poland, she said the players were determined to improve their performances and approach every subsequent match with seriousness. According to her, the team agreed they needed to wake up because they had not come to the tournament to admire anyone, and they resolved to treat every game as a final. She added that they did not downgrade any opponent and put their best into every match.
Individual Honours and Team Success
Umejiaku, who plays for Heartland Queens FC, also won multiple Player of the Match awards during the competition, including in the final. Her Golden Ball recognition was among several individual honours presented at the tournament’s closing ceremony in Rabat on Saturday.
The United States’ Maddie DiMaria won the Golden Boot after scoring a record 12 goals, while North Korea’s Kim Son-gyong received the Golden Glove for her outstanding goalkeeping performances. North Korea’s Yu Jong-hyang also won the Silver Ball, Japan’s Fuki Ito took the Bronze Ball, and Japan received the FIFA Fair Play Trophy.
Umejiaku was also part of the Flamingos squad that won the WAFU-B U-17 Girls Cup in September. Nigeria’s triumph in Morocco was historic on multiple counts, as the country became the first African nation to win the U-17 Women’s World Cup and the first African country to claim a FIFA women’s tournament title. The victory also extended Nigeria’s record of winning at least one FIFA U-17 World Cup title across five consecutive decades, with the country’s male and female teams contributing to the achievement.
