5 Things to Know About Nigeria’s U-17 World Cup-Winning Coach, Akeem Busari

Akeem Ishola Busari led Nigeria to its first FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup title with a 2-1 victory over Japan in the final on November 7, 2026, in Morocco. Appointed Flamingos head coach in April, just seven months before the tournament, he became the first coach to lead an African team to the title. A CAF A-licensed coach, he has more than three decades of experience, including spells with Shooting Stars, Gateway United, JSP FC, Bayelsa Queens and Pacesetter Queens. He began his formal training at Lagos’s National Institute for Sports in 1999 and has helped clubs earn promotion and win State FA Cup titles.