Nigeria’s Flamingos are heading back to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup after defeating Benin Republic 5-3 in an entertaining second leg encounter to complete an 8-5 aggregate victory and secure qualification for the 2026 tournament.
The Flamingos travelled to Stade de Kegue in Lome carrying a slender 3-2 advantage from the first leg in Ikenne but produced another clinical attacking display to finish the job and book one of Africa’s qualification places for the expanded global competition.
Bankole Olowookere’s side made the perfect start as Mary Akpan Dunstan opened the scoring in the sixth minute before Esther Enne Stephen doubled Nigeria’s advantage eight minutes later.
Although Romaine Gandonou pulled one back for Benin in the ninth minute, Nigeria remained in control and restored their two goal cushion when Queen Joseph netted in the 20th minute.
Joseph continued to torment the Beninese defence after the break, completing a superb hat-trick with further strikes in the 54th and 75th minutes to cap another outstanding individual performance.
Benin refused to surrender without a fight. Gandonou grabbed her second goal of the evening in the 64th minute after Hermionne Lokossou had also found the net, but the comeback proved insufficient as Nigeria comfortably protected their aggregate lead.
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The qualification was built on the foundation laid in the first leg at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne.
After Benin stunned the home crowd with Gandonou’s early opener, Queen Joseph restored parity before halftime. Oluwakemi Adegbuyi gave Nigeria the lead after the restart, but Nazifatou Dangui equalised once again for the visitors before Kindness Ifeanyi struck a late winner to hand the Flamingos a narrow first leg advantage.
That victory ultimately proved enough for Nigeria to complete the assignment in Lomé and return to the global stage.
The result means the Flamingos will compete at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, scheduled to take place in Morocco from October 17 to November 7, 2026.
The tournament will feature an expanded 24-team format, with Africa represented by five nations, including hosts Morocco.
