Nigeria’s U-17 women’s team, the Flamingos, began their 2026 WAFU B U-17 Girls’ Cup campaign in emphatic fashion with a commanding 5-0 victory over Niger Republic in Yamoussoukro on Wednesday.
The Flamingos asserted their dominance from the first whistle, controlling possession and dictating the tempo of the game. Captain Harmony Chidi set the tone in the 16th minute, opening the scoring to give Nigeria a deserved 1-0 lead. Despite sustained pressure, Nigeria had to wait for some time for their second goal which came through Awawu Bashiru’s clinical finish. Adegbuyi also had a goal ruled out for offside, but the first half ended with Nigeria firmly in control, with goalkeeper Onyiyechi Opara untested throughout the opening 45 minutes.
The second half saw the Flamingos continue their relentless attacking display. While Niger Republic struggled to contain Nigeria’s pace and creativity, the Flamingos remained patient in their build-up play, searching for more goals to seal the emphatic win. The floodgates opened late in the game as the Flamingos turned dominance into goals. In the 83rd minute, Ohunene Sunday made it 3-0 with a well-taken goal, before Mary Dunstan made it four, leaving the Nigeriens stunned.
Nigeria capped off a perfect afternoon in stoppage time, as Ayomide Rotimi added a fifth goal in the 94th minute to complete the 5-0 rout and underline Nigeria’s superiority in the encounter. The comprehensive victory sends a strong message to other contenders in the tournament, as the Flamingos kick-started their title defence with a clean sheet, five goals, and a performance that showcased depth, discipline, and attacking flair.
