In 1985, a group of unknown Nigerian schoolboys travelled to China unheralded, only to return a few weeks later as the first African team to win a FIFA World Cup tournament.
Now, 41 years later, the Nigeria women's U17 side have become the first African team to win a FIFA Women's world title, beating Japan 2-1 in the final in Rabat on Saturday.
It also means Nigeria became only the second country, after France, to win both the men's and women's FIFA U17 World Cup double. The French won the men's title in 2001, and completed the double with the women's in 2012.
Goals by Awawu Bashiru and Oluebube Umejiaku put the Flamingoes ahead after they had frittered away a succession of gilt-edged opportunities. Bashiru's long range effort slipped through goalkeeper Kou Kadowaki's hands for a fortuitous opener, but there was not the slightest suggestion of fortune in Umejiaku's finish.
She latched onto a gorgeous deep pass from defender Esther Stephen and chipped delightfully over Kadowaki to give the Flamingoes a more than deserved lead, and they were already coasting to victory by the time Fuki Ito pulled back a late consolation for the Japanese.
There were heroic performances all over the park for Nigeria, who overcame an opening day defeat and the prospect of an early exit to win everything. Umejiaku was named the tournament's best player and awarded the Golden Ball, after her four goals, including in the final.
It is also somewhat poetic that they won it in the year that marks exactly 30 years since Nigeria's Dream Team became the first African team to win another global title, when they beat Argentina to win gold in the 1996 Olympic Football tournament.
When the Eaglets returned home, they were rechristened from the Eaglets to the World Golden Eaglets by then Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, so will President Bola Tinubu also do the same for the Flamingos?
But the real question is what their victory means for Nigerian football as a whole.
The talent pipeline is flowing
Nigeria's talent pool is still as abundant as ever, despite recent sustained failures across all levels in recent months.
Wild as it may seem, one of the major reasons for the Super Falcons failure at the last WAFCON started from one position: left back.
During his time, Randy Waldrum drafted Ashleigh Plumptre to seal the leak in that spot while developing Rofiat Imuran as a long term replacement. With Plumptre injured, Justine Madugu ignored both Imuran and Glory Ogbonna, two natural left backs and opted to go with Michelle Alozie, a forward converted to right wing back by Waldrum. It did not end well.
What this class of under 17 players will do is provide players who can be the next generation of Super Falcons, and begin to fill those holes, even if not immediately.
Kanyinsola Yusuf was excellent at left back, in defending, tracking back, pinching in to compress space and bursting forward to help the attack, with some impressive crosses. She is young still, but is a potential well worth keeping an eye on.
Yusuf is not alone. The entire class throws up prospects all across the pitch. Goalkeeper Jane Ijirigho is 6 feet 4 inches tall, as imposing a physical presence as she is a vocal one. And she is a really good goalkeeper.
Chiamaka Nnadozie started from the same level in 2016, and it is obvious her successor could already be here, and knocking on the door, if properly developed.
But it is not just Nnadozie. History shows that this tournament has been a proving ground for future Super Falcons stars.
Desire Oparanozie (2008), Ngozi Okobi (2008, 2010), Francisca Ordega (2010), Halimatu Ayinde (2012), Uchenna Kanu (2014), Rasheedat Ajibade (2014, 2016) and Christy Ucheibe (2016) are among players who started at this level, and have gone on to become Super Falcons stalwarts.
From this class, Oluwakemi Adegbuyi and Favour Nkwocha have already received Super Falcons call ups before they were excused to join this team. But others who could well make the step up and be relevant include the aforementioned Yusuf, Umejiaku, Bashiru and Mary Dunstan.
Trust in local coaches
Africa's first ever world title was midwifed by an African coaching team. Sebastian Brodericks led a team of all local coaches to bring home that first ever title to Africa. Nigeria subsequently went on to win four more. In 1993, 2007, 2013 and 2015, all with local coaches.
Once again, it is the homegrown Busari, in 2026, who has masterminded another history-making moment for Nigeria and the continent. There is nothing subtle about the message there, especially at this level of the game.
Putting trust in local coaches is the way to go, and not just in name only. African federations must not only actively support and empower youth coaches across the continent, they must give them the tools and the autonomy to succeed.
From adversity to triumph
The Flamingos opened their campaign with a loss to Poland, and looking like they could be headed home early, with defending champions North Korea also in the same group.
Instead, they won their next two games, including a handsome defeat of North Korea, and proceeded to win the rest of their games all the way to the final, and in convincing fashion.
It is testament to the unyielding nature of the Nigerian team, when there is a clear determination to succeed. With all of the failures that have followed Nigerian football in recent years it would have been easy for these women to give up and accept their fate.
But they did not. Instead, they rose up to the challenge, faced their demons and conquered every single one. Perhaps there is a lesson there for those who lead Nigerian football.