Flamingos Sweep WAFU-B U17 Girls Cup, Eye World Cup Glory

Nigeria’s Flamingos have clinched the WAFU-B U17 Girls Cup in emphatic fashion, winning all five matches at the tournament in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire.

The Akeem Busari-led side crowned their impressive campaign with a 4-0 demolition of Togo in Sunday’s final to emerge champions without dropping a point.

Captain Harmony Chidi set the tone with two first-half penalties before Oluebube Umejiaku and Oluwakemi Adegbuyi added further goals in the 67th and 90th minutes respectively.

The triumph capped a remarkable run in which the Flamingos scored 17 goals and conceded just two.

Nigeria opened their campaign with a 5-0 victory over Niger Republic before defeating perennial rivals Ghana 4-2. They then overcame Burkina Faso 2-0 and hosts Côte d’Ivoire 2-0 to set up the final against Togo.

Acting General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, praised the team’s performance and expressed confidence that the Flamingos can carry their winning momentum into next month’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.

“The Flamingos have done very well, made the nation proud and I have this faith in the players that they are not done yet,” Ikpeme said.

“I have confidence in the team to go to Morocco and achieve great things at the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup that is starting next month.

“It is no mean feat to win five matches out of five in a tournament. That is a distinction.

“The NFF is appreciative of the WAFU-B headquarters for organising the tournament as a premium preparatory event for the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, and I believe the Flamingos have benefitted immensely ahead of the global competition.”

The Flamingos, bronze medallists at the 2022 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, are expected to return to Nigeria on Tuesday.