The Flamingos, Nigeria’s U-17 women’s team, defeated Benin Republic in the final round of the African qualifiers to earn a spot in the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
In the second leg, which took place on Saturday at the Stade de Kégák in Lomé, Togo, the Flamingos won 5-3 to secure qualification. Nigeria had won the first leg 3-2 in Ikenne, Ogun State, and the victory completed an 8-5 aggregate victory.
Nigeria received one of Africa’s four qualifying spots for the competition as a result, while Morocco, the hosts, automatically qualified.
Morocco will host the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup from October 17 to November 7. It will be the competition’s tenth edition and the second of five tournaments that the country in North Africa will host in a row. Additionally, the tournament will create history by being the first to include 24 teams, up from the previous 16-team format.
Nigeria has a strong tournament record going into the competition. The Flamingos became the first Nigerian team to place on the podium in a FIFA women’s competition when they won the bronze medal at the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in India.
Congratulations to the Nigeria U-17 Women’s Football Team, the Flamingos, on their incredible achievement!
Your dedication, teamwork, and perseverance have truly paid off, and at last, Nigeria is heading to the World Cup.
This milestone is a proud moment for the entire nation and a testament to your hard work and passion for the game.
We celebrate your success and look forward to watching you shine on the global stage. Keep striving and making Nigeria proud!
