Nigeria’s Flamingos will not receive prize money from FIFA despite becoming the first African champions of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
Nigeria defeated Japan 2-1 in Rabat on Saturday, with Oluebube Umejiaku scoring the decisive goal in the final. Umejiaku was also awarded the Golden Ball for her performances during the tournament.
FIFA regulations classify world youth competitions at under-17 and under-20 level as developmental tournaments, rather than events that offer commercial prize funds.
As a result, neither the winners nor individual award recipients receive cash payments from world football’s governing body.
Instead, FIFA covers the main logistical and operational expenses for each participating member association’s official delegation. This support applies to squads of up to 29 people, made up of 21 players and eight team officials.
The arrangements include economy-class return flights between the federation’s capital city and the host country, together with agreed allowances for excess baggage.
FIFA also pays for full board and accommodation at approved hotels, beginning four nights before a team’s opening match and continuing until the day after its final fixture. Daily allowances are also provided for match officials.
The local organising association is responsible for domestic transport, training facilities and matchday operations. Participating member associations, however, must arrange comprehensive insurance for their delegations and cover the costs of any additional personnel beyond the 29-person limit.
This system differs from senior competitions such as the FIFA Women’s World Cup, where prize funds are distributed to member federations and players based on how far teams progress.
Although FIFA will not provide a financial reward for Nigeria’s triumph, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has instructed the country’s National Sports Commission (NSC) to settle all outstanding match bonuses and allowances owed to the squad.
Those payments cover the team’s progress from the qualifying rounds through to the final.
In a statement issued by Special Adviser Bayo Onanuga, the State House said Tinubu congratulated goalscorers Awawu Bashiru and Umejiaku and told the players they had “written your names in gold”.
The squad were also given a US$50,000 cash reward at a reception in Rabat on Saturday night. The event was hosted by NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko and Director-General Bukola Olopade, while commission sponsor Alhaji Saleh Ahmadu presented the prize.
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Acting General Secretary Emmanuel Ikpeme dedicated the trophy to Tinubu.
The victory in Morocco completed a landmark achievement for Nigeria, who are now the first African country to win the U-17 World Cup in both the women’s and men’s categories.
Ghana’s Black Maidens also represented Africa at the tournament and reached the quarter-finals before being eliminated by Japan.
