The win puts the Flamingos in a strong position ahead of the return leg, as they edge closer to qualifying for the global tournament in Morocco later this year.
Match Summary
The encounter was an entertaining, end-to-end affair with both teams showcasing attacking intent. Benin drew first blood in the 16th minute through Yenido Gandonou, but Nigeria responded swiftly.
Queen Joseph restored parity in the 26th minute, before Oluwakemi Adegbuyi gave the Flamingos the lead in the 62nd minute. Benin leveled the score again in the 73rd minute via Nazifatou Dangui, setting up a tense finale.
Kindness Ifeanyi proved to be the hero for Nigeria, netting the decisive goal in the 75th minute to secure the narrow victory and a vital two-goal aggregate advantage heading into the second leg.
Full-time: Nigeria 3-2 Benin Nigeria Scorers: Queen Joseph 26', Oluwakemi Adegbuyi 62', Kindness Ifeanyi 75' Benin Scorers: Yenido Gandonou 16', Nazifatou Dangui 73'
Road to Morocco 2026
This result gives the Flamingos momentum as they prepare for the second leg scheduled for July 12, 2026 in Lomé, Togo. A positive result in the return fixture will see Nigeria qualify for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2026 — a major milestone for the team’s development.
The Flamingos have shown character and quality throughout the qualifiers, and this hard-fought win demonstrates their fighting spirit and depth.
Key Performers
- Kindness Ifeanyi — Match-winner with the crucial third goal.
- Queen Joseph & Oluwakemi Adegbuyi — Clinical finishing to keep Nigeria in the tie.
- The entire squad displayed great resilience coming from behind twice.
Head Coach and technical team will now focus on preparations for the decisive away leg, where qualification for the prestigious tournament will be on the line.
Flamingos continue to make Nigeria proud on the continental stage. Fans are urged to rally behind the team as they chase a spot at the World Cup.
This victory is another positive step for Nigerian women’s football. The Flamingos are flying high — qualification is within reach.
Stay tuned for updates on the second leg and more youth football news.
Let’s go Flamingos! 🇳🇬