Nigeria's Young Footballers Overcome Benin 5-3, Securing Spot in FIFA U-17 Global Tournament

Nigeria's Flamingos have secured a spot in the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, courtesy of a 5-3 win over Benin's Amazons in Lomé on Saturday, which translated to an 8-5 aggregate triumph.

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The team, led by Coach Akeem Busari, built upon their 3-2 first-leg victory in Ikenne, Ogun, with a dominant display of attacking prowess, ultimately leading to their qualification.

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In the sixth minute, Mary Dustan scored the opening goal for Nigeria, but their lead was short-lived as Benin equalized just three minutes later, reigniting the intense competition.

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Nigeria regained the upper hand when Ester Stephen scored in the 15th minute, and Queen Joseph further extended their lead five minutes later, giving the Flamingos a commanding 3-1 advantage.

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Benin, however, refused to back down, scoring two goals to narrow the gap and momentarily threaten Nigeria's chances of advancing, before the Flamingos responded with decisive action.

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The Nigerian team added two more goals to seal a 5-3 victory, thereby ending Benin's resistance and confirming their participation in the global tournament.

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The aggregate score of 8-5 underscored Nigeria's superiority throughout the two qualifying matches, with Busari's team scoring eight goals and conceding five over the two legs.

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Coach Akeem Busari expressed his pride in the players' determination and attacking spirit, stating, "I'm proud of the players' determination and attacking spirit. They showed resilience and deserved this qualification."

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The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup is scheduled to take place in Rabat, Morocco, from Oct. 17 to Nov. 7, and will feature the world's top youth teams.