Flamingos Soar: Nigeria's U-17 Women Secure 2026 World Cup Berth in Thrilling 8-5 Victory

Nigeria's Flamingos have successfully secured their place at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, triumphing over Benin Republic with an impressive 8-5 aggregate score in the final round of the African qualifiers. This significant achievement was confirmed on Saturday, July 11, following a thrilling 5-3 victory against Benin Republic in the second leg match held at the Stade de Kégué in Lomé, Togo. The qualification marks an outstanding campaign for the Nigerian youngsters, who are set to represent their nation at the prestigious global tournament scheduled to take place in Morocco from October 17 to November 7, 2026.

The Flamingos entered the decisive return leg with a slender advantage, having won the first encounter 3-2. That initial match was played at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State, on July 4. In that game, goals from Queen Joseph, Oluwakemi Adegbuyi, and Kindness Ifeanyi provided Nigeria with a crucial lead, setting the stage for the trip to Togo for the final showdown.

The second leg proved to be a dramatic affair right from the start. Nigeria made an immediate impact, with Mark Akpan Dunstan opening the scoring in the sixth minute, putting the visitors ahead. However, Benin Republic quickly retaliated, as Romaine Gandonou netted an equalizer in the 11th minute, ensuring the contest remained fiercely competitive. The Flamingos swiftly regained control, with Esther Enne Stephen restoring Nigeria's lead in the 15th minute, followed by Queen Joseph adding a third goal just four minutes later, giving Nigeria a comfortable 3-1 advantage before halftime.

Nigeria maintained their attacking momentum after the break. In the 54th minute, Queen Joseph confidently converted a penalty, scoring her second goal of the afternoon and extending Nigeria's lead to 4-1. Despite the scoreline, Benin Republic demonstrated resilience. The Young Amazons staged a spirited comeback, with Hermionne Lokossou finding the net before Romaine Gandonou secured her second goal of the match. These quick goals reduced the score to 4-3, significantly increasing the tension inside the Stade de Kégué as the home side sensed a potential comeback.

Just as the pressure mounted on Nigeria, Queen Joseph once again rose to the occasion. In the 76th minute, she completed a brilliant hat-trick, restoring Nigeria's two-goal advantage and effectively extinguishing Benin's hopes of overturning the tie. Her exceptional performance was pivotal in ensuring the Flamingos claimed a well-deserved 5-3 victory on the day, culminating in an 8-5 aggregate success.

This qualification further solidifies Nigeria's impressive track record in African women's youth football. Prior to their encounter with Benin Republic in the final round, the Flamingos had dominated Guinea in the preceding qualifying stage, achieving an overwhelming 11-0 aggregate victory. They secured a 5-0 win away from home in the first leg, before completing the job with a commanding 6-0 triumph on home soil. With their place now secured, the Flamingos will turn their focus towards preparing for the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Morocco, where they will compete against some of the finest young teams from across the globe.