At just 16, Lagos State University (LASU) student Esther Stephen has become part of Nigerian football history after providing the assist for the winning goal in the Flamingos’ 2–1 victory over Japan in the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup final. Stephen, a Diploma 2 student of Human Kinetics, Sports and Health Education at LASU, played an important role in Nigeria’s historic triumph in the final held in Rabat, Morocco, on Saturday, November 7, 2026.
The young defender delivered a long pass that set up Oluebube Umejiaku’s winning goal in the 47th minute. Awawu Bashiru had earlier opened the scoring in the 39th minute before Umejiaku secured the victory shortly after the restart. The triumph made Nigeria the first African country to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
Stephen featured in all seven matches played by the Flamingos during the tournament, contributing to the team’s defensive performance. Although she played primarily as a right-back for the national team, she operates as a central defender for her club, Unification Female Team, Lagos, where she also serves as captain.
Her achievement has attracted recognition from the LASU community. The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ayodeji Badejo, congratulated Stephen and the entire Flamingos squad, describing her contribution as a source of pride for the institution, Lagos State and Nigeria. In a statement released on Thursday, Badejo praised Stephen’s discipline, versatility and commitment, saying her performance demonstrated the ability of students to excel beyond the classroom and compete internationally.
He also acknowledged the contributions of her coaches, lecturers and other members of the university community to her development. The vice-chancellor added that the university would continue supporting talented students and expressed his intention to welcome and celebrate the young footballer. Stephen’s international success follows another achievement in university football. She was part of the LASU women’s football team that defeated the University of Lagos to win gold at the 2024 All Africa University Games, jointly hosted by both institutions.
The victory also secured the team’s qualification to represent Africa at the 2025 World University Games in China. Born in Benue State, Stephen continues to develop her football career with Unification Female Team in Lagos. Her contribution to the Flamingos’ World Cup victory comes amid wider national celebrations, following the announcement by President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate of a ₦100 million reward for the victorious team.
LASU student Esther Stephen assisted the winning goal as Nigeria defeated Japan to claim the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. Her performance has earned recognition from her university, where she is also celebrated for her previous achievements in university football.
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