Benin U-17 Women’s head coach Idah Azonsou has expressed confidence that his team can overcome Nigeria’s Flamingos and secure a place at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
The Young Amazons will face the Flamingos in a decisive qualifying tie next month, with a spot at the global tournament at stake.
Azonsou’s side began preparations for the crucial encounter at the Missérété Excellence Centre on Sunday, and will continue their training camp in Lomé from this weekend.
Azonsou In Buoyant Mood
While acknowledging Nigeria’s pedigree and status as favourites, the Benin coach believes his players are capable of springing a surprise and booking their place at the World Cup.
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“We know that Nigeria is a major force in women’s football and consistently performs at this level. That is why we are working hard to face them and, hopefully, secure a historic qualification for the U-17 World Cup,” Azonsou told a press conference on Thursday.
“The girls are determined and fully aware of what is at stake. The work is not only done on the pitch but also off it. They know what to expect.”
Perfect Preparation For Big Game
The Benin tactician also spoke about the Young Amazons’ preparations, insisting his side is working hard to be in the best possible shape for the showdown with the Flamingos.
“Over the past week, we worked on several aspects, including physical fitness, tactics, and technical skills. It has been an intense week of training,” Azonsou explained, highlighting the importance of the sessions conducted with the squad.
Nigeria will host the first leg at the Remo Stars Sports Complex on Saturday, 4 July, with the reverse fixture scheduled to take place a week later in Kégué.
