Nigeria’s U17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, have booked their place at the 2026 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup after defeating Benin Republic 5-3 in the second leg of their final qualifying tie on Saturday to complete an 8-5 aggregate victory.
Gatekeepers News reports that the decisive encounter was played at the Stade de Kégué in Lomé, Togo, with the Akeem Busari-led side overcoming a spirited challenge from the Beninese to clinch one of Africa’s five qualification spots for the tournament.
Harmony Joseph was the star of the match, converting a penalty early in the second half before completing her hat-trick after Benin threatened a comeback through goals from Hermionne Lokossou and Gandonou. Joseph also matched the record of scoring in every qualifying match during the campaign.
The Flamingos had taken a narrow 3-2 advantage from the first leg, leaving the tie finely balanced heading into the return fixture. Their five-goal display in Lomé ensured they progressed comfortably on aggregate.
Nigeria has now qualified for every edition of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup and will be making its ninth appearance at the global tournament. The Flamingos’ best outing came in 2022 when they won the bronze medal, the first African team to finish on the podium in the competition.
