Nigeria’s U17 women’s team, the Flamingos, moved one step closer to claiming the inaugural WAFU B U17 Girls’ Cup following a 2-0 win over Benin Republic in the semi-finals on Wednesday, Afrosport reports.
The Flamingos, led by coach Bankole Olowookere, saw off Benin courtesy of two second-half goals inside the Ghana Centre of Excellence in Prampram.
🏁FULL TIME!
Nigeria 2-0 Benin – SemifinalsOur sisters Flamingos are through to the finals of the U17 WAFU-B Women’s Cup in Accra. They will square up against hosts Ghana for the maiden title glory in the final on Sunday #SoarFlamingos pic.twitter.com/rCpEw55Cme
— NGSuper_Falcons (@NGSuper_Falcons) December 19, 2024
Forward Mary Nkpa, who was named Player of the Match, broke the deadlock in the 70th minute from the penalty spot, minutes after Janet Akekoromowei had fluffed a big chance to put Nigeria in the lead.
Substitute Peace Effiong doubled Nigeria’s lead in the 78th minute with the youngster profiting from a goalkeeping error. It soon became three through Akekoromowei, but the forward’s 84th-minute effort was ruled out by the referee, who signalled a foul on the goalkeeper.
The Flamingos, who have scored 14 goals in the tournament and have conceded just two, will take on hosts Ghana in the final on Sunday, 22 December, with the Black Maidens progressing to the final following a 5-0 rout of Cote d’Ivoire earlier in the day.
The two rivals will face off at the same venue—the Ghana Centre of Excellence in Prampram—the same day the CHAN Eagles take on Ghana’s Black Galaxies in Accra in the first leg of their 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifying fixture.
