Nigeria’s Flamingos will face Ghana’s Black Maidens in their opening match of the 2026 WAFU Zone B U-17 Girls Championship in Côte d’Ivoire, Footynaija reports.
The regional tournament starts on September 15 and also serves as the qualifying competition for the 2027 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations. Nigeria and Ghana are in Group B with Togo and Niger.
The meeting gives the Flamingos a demanding start against a familiar West African rival.
Nigeria go into the tournament after securing a place at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco. Akeem Busari’s team beat Benin Republic 5-3 in Lomé in July to complete an 8-5 aggregate victory in the final qualifying round. Queen Joseph scored twice in that second-leg win, including the 76th-minute goal that sealed Nigeria’s progress.
The Flamingos also have recent WAFU B experience against Ghana. In the 2024 final in Prampram, the Black Maidens beat Nigeria 5-4 on penalties after a 2-2 draw. Ghana scored twice inside the opening 19 minutes, but Precious Oscar pulled one back in the 34th minute before Harmony Chidi equalised in the 78th.
That result gives Ghana an early psychological edge, but Nigeria arrive with a new coach, a World Cup ticket and another chance to set the tone in a competition that can lead to continental qualification.










