Adegbuyi was recognised for her influential performances throughout the competition, which ended on Sunday with Nigeria defeating Togo 4-0 in the final. The award adds to the youngster’s growing collection of individual honours and caps an impressive campaign for the Flamingos.
The Nigerian No. 14 finished the tournament with four goals, alongside assists, as the team won all five of their matches. Her contributions helped Nigeria finish the competition unbeaten, scoring 17 goals and conceding just two.
Adegbuyi also found the net in the final against Togo, scoring in the 90th minute to complete the 4-0 victory. Captain Chidera Harmony had earlier scored twice from the penalty spot, while Oluebube Umejiaku added Nigeria’s third goal.
Another major honour for Adegbuyi
The award is another milestone in Adegbuyi’s rapid rise in Nigerian women’s football. She was previously named Player of the Tournament at the WAFU-B CAF Women’s Champions League qualifiers after helping Edo Queens secure the regional title and qualification for the continental competition.
She also won the 2025/26 Nigeria Women’s Football League Premiership Player of the Season award during her time with FC Robo Queens.
Her latest recognition at the U-17 level underlines her growing influence across both domestic and regional competitions.
Flamingos complete dominant campaign
Nigeria’s title-winning run included victories over Niger Republic, Ghana, Burkina Faso, hosts Côte d’Ivoire and Togo. Their 4-0 win in the final secured five victories from five matches and provided a strong finish to their preparations for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
Teammate Onyinyechi Opara was also recognised at the tournament, winning the Best Goalkeeper award after keeping four clean sheets in five appearances.
The Flamingos will now turn their attention to the global tournament, scheduled to take place in Morocco from 17 October to 7 November 2026. Nigeria have been drawn in Group B alongside North Korea, Poland and Puerto Rico, with their opening match against Poland scheduled for 17 October.
For Adegbuyi, the WAFU-B Best Player award represents another significant step in a promising young career, while Nigeria’s overall triumph gives the team added confidence ahead of their next major challenge.