FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup 2026: Flamingos win thriller with five goals from Ikenne-Remo

Nigerian U17 girls, Flamingos, on Saturday defeated their Bénin Republic counterparts, the Amazons, 3-2 in the first leg of the final qualifying round for this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals.

It was a hotly contested match at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo, with both teams highlighting the qualities that took them to the African final stage of the qualifying series.

Bénin Republic striker Romaine Gandonou, who had been a thorn in the side of the Nigerian rearguard throughout the evening, scored the first goal of the match in the 16th minute with a left-footed rocket from the edge of the eighteen-yard box, to which Nigerian goalkeeper Jane Ijirigho had no response.

The goal didn’t faze the Flamingos, who pushed harder to reach the goal, and team captain Harmony Chidi saw her chip go slightly over the bar thanks to good work from Queen Joseph in the 17th minute.

Nigeria’s equalizer came in the 26th minute when Queen Joseph scored with a high lob that left goalkeeper Elise Kounkpaga baffled.

Ijirigho had to be alert to save from Gandonou in the 34th minute, but nine minutes later Nigeria also came close to scoring when Oluwakemi Adegbuyi’s chip hit the crossbar.

In the second half, the Flamingos added some urgency to their game, with Chidi seeing his well-taken shot saved by Kounkpaga in the 49th minute, before Favor Nkwocha hit the ball just over the sticks on the hour mark.

In the 62nd minute, Nigeria took the lead when substitute Kindness Ifeanyi’s shot was too hot for Kounkpaga to hold, and Adegbuyi was close enough to slot the ball into the net.

The Amazons equalized 11 minutes later, with Nazifatou Dangui slotting past Ijirigho after good work from Gandonou opened up the Flamingos defence.

Two minutes later, Nigeria re-established their lead, when Ifeanyi rose above everyone else to send the ball into the net from a corner.

The return match will take place at the Stade Kegue in Lomé, Togo, on Saturday next week, with the winner guaranteed a place in the finals of this year’s FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, which will be hosted by Morocco.