Nigeria’s Under-20 women’s team, the Falconets, defeated Benin Republic 3-0 in the semifinals of the WAFU B U-20 Women’s Championship on Wednesday to progress to the final of the tournament.
The Falconets began the tie at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, Ghana, in confident fashion, having won all three group stage games, scoring 16 goals and conceding none.
Full-time in Kumasi.
The ????????Falconets are through to the final of the @U20wafu2023 after a comfortable win over Benin Republic ????????.
Amina Bello got Nigeria on her before Esther Onyenezide's brace put the icing on the cake.
They will face ????????Ghana in the final.#SoarFalconets pic.twitter.com/nCfLoA8zfT
— The NFF ???????? (@thenff) May 31, 2023
After large periods of controlled possession, Amina Bello opened the scoring for Nigeria in the 23rd minute with her third goal of the competition.
Four minutes after the half-hour mark, FC Robo Queens midfielder Esther Onyenezide doubled the Falconets lead from the penalty spot after Bayelsa Queens forward Flourish Sabastine was brought down in the box.
Fullback Chidinma Ogbuchi should have made it three to Nigeria soon after the second-half restart, but her header was just wide off the mark.
Onyenezide completed her brace in the 66th minute with a sublime finish off an exquisite assist from Taiwo Afolabi. Bello also came close to getting a brace, but her effort went straight into the goalkeeper’s arm.
Chris Danjuma’s side continues to impress at the tournament, and they will now face hosts Ghana, who defeated Burkina Faso 3-1, in the final.
