Nigeria, Nov. 8 -- For Nigeria U-17 women's team head coach Akeem Busari, winning the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Morocco was not simply about having the most talented players in the squad; It was about character, mindset, attitude and merit, values he insisted every member of his team had to demonstrate before earning a place in the starting line-up.

That philosophy became increasingly evident as the Flamingos moved from an opening-day disappointment against Poland to a historic triumph over Japan in the final. Coach Busari was willing to make changes, trust players who had initially been on the fringes and reward those who continued to show commitment, regardless of their status in the squad.

Those decisions were especially ev...