Nigeria and Ghana Set for Thrilling Final in Inaugural WAFU U17 Girls' Cup

Nigeria and Ghana will face off in a highly anticipated clash for the title in the inaugural WAFU U17 Girls' Cup on Sunday, marking a historic showdown between two of West Africa's footballing giants. The final, to be played at the Ghana Centre of Excellence in Prampram, comes on the same day as the senior men's national teams of both countries will meet in Accra for the first leg of their African Nations Championship qualifying fixture.

In Thursday's semi-final, Nigeria's Flamingos edged past Benin Republic 2-0 to secure their place in the final. The Flamingos, who impressed with their attacking play throughout the tournament, were clinical in the second half after a goalless first. Forward Mary Lucky Mkpa broke the deadlock in the 70th minute, converting a penalty after a foul inside the box. This came just minutes after Janet Akekoromowei, the towering Nigerian striker, squandered a golden chance to put her side ahead.

Eight minutes after Mkpa's penalty, Peace Effiong capitalized on a goalkeeping error to double Nigeria's lead. Effiong’s sharpness in front of goal capped a dominant second-half performance by the Flamingos, though Akekoromowei’s late strike in the 84th minute was ruled out for a foul on the goalkeeper.

With 14 goals scored in three matches and only two conceded, Nigeria heads into the final with plenty of confidence, having shown both offensive flair and defensive solidity. However, they will face a formidable opponent in Ghana, who also come into the final full of momentum after an impressive 5-0 victory over Cote d'Ivoire in their semi-final.

The WAFU U17 Girls' Cup final promises to be a thrilling encounter, as both teams look to claim the inaugural title. The Flamingos will be looking to maintain their dominance in the competition, while the Ghanaian Maidens will be determined to secure a home victory. The match is set to be a fitting conclusion to a captivating tournament that has showcased some of the brightest young talents in West African women’s football.

The final, scheduled for Sunday at the Ghana Centre of Excellence, promises an electric atmosphere as Nigeria and Ghana’s U17 teams prepare for one of the most exciting youth football finals in recent memory.