* The scoring was opened in the sixth minute by Mary Akpan Dunstan.
Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, have secured qualification for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup after defeating Benin Republic 5-3 in a thrilling second-leg encounter at the Stade de Kégué in Lomé, Togo, completing an 8-5 aggregate triumph to claim one of Africa’s four qualification slots for the global tournament. Nigeria entered the decisive fixture holding a narrow 3-2 advantage from the first leg, which was played at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State, where Benin had stunned the home crowd through Romaine Gandonou’s solo effort, before Queen Joseph levelled with a header, Oluwakemi Adegbuyi put the Flamingos ahead after the break, Nazifatou Dangui equalised for the visitors, and Kindness Ifeanyi struck late to seal the home win.
In the return leg in Lomé, the Flamingos produced another impressive attacking display to confirm their place at the tournament in Morocco. Mary Akpan Dunstan opened the scoring in the sixth minute, before Esther Enne Stephen doubled the lead eight minutes later.
Queen Joseph then delivered a standout performance with a hat-trick, finding the net in the 20th, 54th and 75th minutes. Benin fought back through Romaine Gandonou, who scored in the ninth and 64th minutes, while Hermionne Lokossou added a goal in the 56th minute, but Nigeria held their composure to seal victory.
The result confirms Nigeria’s place at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, which will be hosted by Morocco from 17 October to 7 November 2026. The Flamingos will be among Africa’s representatives alongside host nation Morocco, with the continent represented by five teams at the expanded 24-nation tournament.
