AFCON 2025
Nigeria’s U17 women’s team continued their impressive start to the WAFU B campaign with a 4-2 victory over Ghana in the Jollof Derby in Yamoussoukro on Thursday.
The Flamingos had to play the final stages with 10 players after Elizabeth Adesuyi was sent off in the 59th minute, but Coach Busari’s side held their nerve to secure all three points.
Nigeria entered the encounter on the back of a 5-0 victory over Niger U17 on September 16, while Ghana had opened their campaign with a 4-0 win. The latest result means Nigeria have now scored nine goals in their opening two matches.
Nigeria started the game on the front foot, with Ghana adopting a compact approach and looking to frustrate their opponents.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 33rd minute when Oluwakemi Adegbuyi produced a fine finish to put Nigeria ahead.
Adegbuyi, the NWFL Player of the Season and a WAFU B MVP, continued her impressive run of form as Nigeria took a 1-0 lead.
Captain Harmony Chidi doubled Nigeria’s advantage in first-half stoppage time, calmly finishing in the 45+2nd minute to give the Flamingos a 2-0 lead at the break.
The complexion of the match changed in the 59th minute when Adesuyi was shown a straight red card after bringing down a Ghanaian attacker as the last defender.
Ghana quickly capitalised on their numerical advantage. Captain Seidatu Wahab converted the resulting free kick in the 62nd minute to reduce the deficit to 2-1.
Nigeria, however, responded strongly despite being down to 10 players.
Mary Dunstan restored the two-goal advantage in the 70th minute after beating a defender, taking the goalkeeper out of the equation and finishing brilliantly to make it 3-1.
Chidi appeared to have scored her second of the evening three minutes later, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Nigeria eventually put the result beyond doubt in the 87th minute when Kaosarat Akanji scored directly from a free kick to make it 4-1.
Ghana’s Gloria A. Ameaa pulled another goal back in the 90th minute, but it was too late to spark a comeback as Nigeria held on for a 4-2 victory.
The Flamingos now have nine goals from two matches, underlining their strong attacking start to the competition.
