Nigeria will play its maiden FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup final against Japan on Saturday. The Flamingos beat Brazil to reach this historic match in Rabat. Nigeria coach Akeem Busari said, "The character, mentality and attitude which you approach every game with, and at every other level too, is what matters."
Nigeria will be playing in its maiden FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup final, while Japan will feature in the finale for the third, having won the title once in 2014.
Nigeria will look to script history in women's football as it eyes its maiden title at the FIFA under-17 Women's World Cup on Saturday.
The Flamingos beat Brazil 3-1 in the semifinal and will be up against three-time finalist and Asian heavyweight Japan in a bid for the title in Rabat, Morocco.
"From what we saw against DPR [Korea], I think it's the core of what we should expect more of from the Japanese," Nigeria coach Akeem Busari told FIFA at the final press conference.
"But it's a different ballgame because, for both us and them, the game will not be the same. The character, mentality and attitude which you approach every game with, and at every other level too, is what really matters."
Japan, on the other hand, will enter the contest in stunning form under coach Sadayoshi Shirai, who has guided the team to consecutive finals of the Women's under-17 Asian Cup, and will look to win the under-17 World Cup with his side this time around.
"Winning the World Cup has been our goal ever since this team came together," Shirai told FIFA during the pre-match press conference. This is his third edition at the helm, having guided Japan to the quarterfinals at the 2024 Dominican Republic and Morocco 2025.
"I've told the team that we all need to pull together tomorrow, including those who won't be in the starting line-up. I want everyone to remember that we're all fighting together as one," he added.
The match will be played at the Mohammed VI Football Complex, and kicks off at 6:30 pm local time.