Flamingos beat Benin girls in 5-3 thriller, qualify for 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup on 8-5 aggregate

By Harry Awurumibe, Editor-in-Chief, Abuja                                                            Nigeria’s U-17 women’s football team, Flamingos, is through to the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco after defeating a determined Benin Republic U-17 girls 5-3 in a pulsating second leg African qualifier match played Saturday in Lome, Togo, Prompt News reports.

By the above scoreline, Nigeria qualified for the junior World Cup on 8-5 aggregate scores after beating Benin 3-2 in the first leg played last week in Ikenne-Remo, Ogun state.

Nigeria claimed one of Africa’s four automatic qualification slots and will join host Morocco, making it five African teams at the 24-team tournament scheduled for October 17 to November 7, 2026.

The visitors opened scores early in the match after Mark Akpan’s 6′ goal, while Benin Republic equalised in the 11′ through Romaihilene Gandonou.

But four minutes later Esther Enne Stephen put Nigeria in front in the 15′ just as Queen Joseph made it three goals for Nigeria in the 19′ to lead by 3-1 in the half time.

On resumption Nigeria scored the fourth goal from the penalty spot in the 54′ but that goal proved a wake-up call as Benin scored two more goals under 10 minutes through Hermionne Lokossou in 56′ and Romaine Gandonou via a 64′ penalty.

However, Queen Joseph scored her brace in 76′ to bring the final scores to 5-3 on the day.