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Nigeria’s Flamingos secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Benin Republic in the first leg of their final qualifying round for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup at the Remo Stars Sports Complex, Ikenne, on Saturday, reports Completesports.com.
The visitors made a dream start when Yenido Romaine Gandonou fired Benin into the lead in the 14th minute, silencing the home crowd.
The Flamingos responded positively, with Queen Joseph restoring parity 10 minutes later to ensure the teams went into the break level.
Read Also:U-17 WWCQ: Busari Declares Flamingos Ready For Benin Republic Clash
Banking on their dominance after the restart, Nigeria took the lead for the first time in the 62nd minute through Oluwakemi Adegbuyi.
Benin refused to back down, however, and Nazifatou Dangui equalised in the 72nd minute to set up a tense finale.
The Flamingos regained the advantage just three minutes later, with Ifeanyi Kindness finding the back of the net to seal a narrow but crucial first-leg victory for Akeem Busari’s side.
Both teams will meet again in the decisive second leg at the Stade de Kégué in Lomé next weekend, with a place at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup at stake.
By Adeboye Amosu
4 Comments
Narrow indeed! Great game though, definitely not a time waster. Highly competitive.
However, the Flamingos showed their quality and deserved the win, however slim.
Queen Joseph down our right was unplayable, unstoppable, unreachable – a player to look out for should we qualify.
The entire team showed cohesion, understanding and soft-skill. They can be vulnerable at the back which Benin punished today, despite the Flamingos having the bird share of possession.
With our ability to deliver deft copious crosses from the flanks, we need our centre forwards to be able to take advantage.
Chidi Harmony continues to show willingness and industry. In all, the team played well.
But Benin, who paraded some players of Nigerian ancestry, will fight to the last woman in the second leg.
It will be a fight to the finish!
Is she the same Ifeanyi Kindness of the under 20’s?Someone should help please..
Meanwhile,the scorer of Benin’s first goal is very dangerous…She wore a number 7 jersey,a very good attacker with great qualities. Nigeria’s chance of going through will depends on how she’s managed in the second decisive encounter…
The Nigeria number 9,Harmony Chidi was a shadow of her former self.She was lost in attack haven’t a clue of how to convert chances, missing 3 goalscoring opportunities in the first half,which put so much pressure on the young,inexperienced flamingos.The team relied on her to score and worked hard for the opportunities squandered by the off form striker..Otherwise the flamingos should have had a convincing scoreline.
Now,they have to do it the hard way!Unfortunately!
Credit to Queen Joseph.She’s a special talent.
One, Nigeria is not keeping a clean sheet in the return leg that will be a “hostile atmosphere”.
Two, all speculative shots today didn’t trouble the goal keeper of benin today
Three, if we rather shoot more than find the nearest woman, we might lose the next match.
Four, Gusau needs to leave glass house so that we can get a serious identity for our football. Kick about football is stale in 2026.
We had chances that were easier to bury than miss but we missed
That Benin attacker with 9 goals from the last 5 games including one today and assist will ensure our rag tag backline will not keep it clean sheet.
We are condemned to finish our chances. Aim at the net, not the sky.
The only plus I saw today was the coach refusing the players to over celebrate the goals but get on with the game instead.
Unlike his predecessor that loved the salute.
These girls need specialist trainers in scoring, set pieces, positioning, control but Gusau will NEVER do that.
We are one bad sorry “high” or “biased” CAF referee from missing out on the world cup, truth be told if we can’t finish off our chances.
Again, score goals flamingoes because Benin is not guinea. And they will be at home.