U-17 WWC Qualifiers: Benin Coach Confident Despite First-Leg Defeat to Nigeria

Benin Republic U-17 women's head coach Idah Azonsou remains optimistic about her team's chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup despite a 3-2 first-leg defeat to Nigeria's Flamingos.

The Beninese side pushed the Flamingos throughout the encounter but ultimately fell short, leaving the tie finely balanced ahead of the decisive second leg at Stade de Kégué in Lomé on Saturday, July 11.

Speaking after the match, Azonsou praised her players for their determination against a more experienced Nigerian side but admitted that costly defensive errors proved decisive.

"I want to congratulate my players. I am satisfied with their performance. They played well against an experienced team. However, we made a few mistakes that cost us goals.

"Those are areas we will work on and correct. The first leg is over, but qualification is still open. There are still 90 minutes to play."

Nigeria's Flamingos head into the return leg with a narrow one-goal advantage, but Benin's Amazons remain firmly in contention as they seek a historic first qualification for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.

The winner on aggregate will secure a place at the tournament later this year.

Opinion

Azonsou has every reason to remain hopeful. A one-goal deficit is far from decisive in two-legged football, especially with the return fixture effectively serving as a home game for Benin. More importantly, her team's willingness to attack Nigeria and score twice suggests they possess enough quality to keep the contest alive.

For the Flamingos, however, the slim advantage should serve as a warning rather than a comfort. Nigeria's experience at youth level makes them favourites, but defensive lapses in the first leg showed that complacency could prove costly. If Benin eliminate those mistakes highlighted by Azonsou, the return leg promises to be one of the most intriguing ties in the qualification series.