Idah Azonsou, the head coach of Benin’s U-17 women’s national team, has expressed strong belief that his squad can overcome Nigeria’s Flamingos to qualify for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. Despite acknowledging Nigeria’s dominance in women’s football, Azonsou is optimistic about his team’s chances.
The Young Amazons kicked off their preparations for the crucial two-legged tie on Monday at the Missérété Excellence Centre. Training sessions will continue this weekend in Lome as the team ramps up for the encounter.
Azonsou stated, “We recognize that Nigeria is a powerhouse in women’s football and has a strong track record at this level. That’s why we are putting in maximum effort to face them and, with any luck, achieve a historic qualification for the U-17 World Cup.”
The first leg is scheduled for Saturday, 4 July, at the Remo Stars Sports Complex in Nigeria. The return match will take place a week later in Kegue, Benin.