Opara received the individual accolade at the tournament’s awards ceremony following Nigeria’s impressive run in Côte d’Ivoire. The young goalkeeper helped the Flamingos maintain a solid defensive record as they won all five of their matches to claim the regional title.
According to reports, Opara kept four clean sheets in five appearances, underlining her consistency between the posts throughout the competition.
Her performances provided an important foundation for Nigeria’s unbeaten run, which saw the team score 17 goals and concede just twice. The Flamingos finished the tournament with 15 points from five matches, ahead of Ghana, who finished second with 12 points.
Flamingos complete perfect campaign
Nigeria capped their campaign with a commanding 4-0 victory over Togo in Sunday’s final in Yamoussoukro.
Captain Chidera Harmony converted two first-half penalties to give the Flamingos control of the contest. Oluebube Umejiaku added a third goal in the 67th minute before Oluwakemi Adegbuyi completed the scoring in the 90th minute.
The victory sealed Nigeria’s fifth win from five matches and confirmed their status as champions of the 2026 WAFU-B U-17 Girls Cup.
Opara’s recognition also came alongside another individual honour for Nigeria, with Adegbuyi named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Adegbuyi finished with four goals and contributed to the team’s attacking success throughout the competition.
Boost ahead of the World Cup
The regional triumph gives the Flamingos added confidence as they prepare for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
For Opara, the Best Goalkeeper award is recognition of her contribution to Nigeria’s title-winning campaign. Her four clean sheets and the team’s overall defensive record highlight the importance of the goalkeeper’s role in a tournament in which the Flamingos combined attacking efficiency with defensive discipline.
With the WAFU-B title secured, Nigeria will now turn their attention to the next stage of their preparations for the global competition.