#Benin

Benin U-17 women's head coach, Idah Azonsou, commended her team's performance despite their 3-2 loss to Nigeria's Flamingos in the U-17 Women's World Cup Qualifiers. Azonsou emphasized that there is still a chance for a comeback in the upcoming return leg, which is set to take place at Stade de Kégué in Lomé on July 11. She noted that mistakes made by her players contributed to the defeat.

On July 5, 2026, diviners, sorcerers, priests, and local leaders gathered in front of the Oba of Benin's palace to perform a ritual aimed at cursing criminals, including kidnappers and cultists, who are causing unrest in the Benin Kingdom and surrounding areas. This event was described as a historic ritual to address the ongoing issues of terrorism in the region, according to Vanguard.

The Flamingos achieved a 3-2 victory against Benin in the U17 Women's World Cup qualifier, with Ifeanyi scoring the decisive goal. This win gives Nigeria a significant advantage heading into the second leg of the qualifier.