National Teams
2024 WAFU-B U-17 Girls Cup: Flamingos beat stubborn Benin to set up final date with Ghana
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Nigeria U-17 women’s national team recorded a 2-0 win over Benin Republic in the semi-final of the 2024 West Africa Zone B (WAFU-B) U-17 Girls Cup in Ghana on Thursday.
Second-half goals from Mary Lucky Nkpa and Peace Effiong ensured Flamingo’s place in the final.
The Beninoise put up a gallant display by ensuring that Bankole Olowookere’s side couldn’t score in the first half for the first time in the tournament.
It took Mary Lucky Nkpa’s 70th penalty to break the deadlock for Nigeria.
Effionf later doubled the lead for the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup bronze medalist.
Nigeria kept their second clean sheet in the tournament and will face host, Ghana in the final after scoring 14 goals and conceding two.
A 9-0 win against Niger Republic was followed by a hard fourth 3-2 victory over Cote D’Ivoire.
Meanwhile, Ghana thrashed Cote D’Ivoire 5-0 in the first semi-final to set up a final date with Nigeria.
Ghana U-20 women’s national teams have beaten their Nigerian counterparts twice at home first at the WAFU-B U-20 Girls Cup final on penalties.
This year, the U-20 team beat Nigeria to win a gold medal at the African Games.
Flamingos will hope to avenge the losses of their sisters in the final.
