U17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers: Romaine Gandonou and Aminata Touré lead scoring charts after opening round

The first round of qualification for the U17 Women’s World Cup has been completed, with several players standing out in front of goal as teams secured their places in the next phase of the competition.

Across the fixtures, attacking performances proved decisive, with individual scoring bursts helping to shape dramatic ties and confirm progression.

Teams now turn their attention to the second round after a competitive opening stage.

One of the most striking comebacks came from Benin, who overturned a first-leg defeat against Burkina Faso to advance.

Romaine Gandonou played a central role in that turnaround, scoring four goals in the return match alone.

Combined with her strike in the first leg, she finishes the round on five goals in total.

Gandonou’s performance was key to Benin’s qualification, as she produced a decisive display when it mattered most.

Her contribution ensured her side not only recovered from an early setback but also progressed in emphatic fashion.

Elsewhere, Guinea’s Aminata Touré also made a major impact, finishing the first round with five goals.

She scored her tally across the tie against Niger, underlining her consistency in front of goal and placing her at the top of the scoring charts alongside Gandonou.

Both players now share the position of leading scorers after the opening round, reflecting their influence in the early stages of the qualifiers.

Behind the top two, a group of players remain firmly in contention for the Golden Boot race.

Cameroon’s Sekem Mindzie and Mimbama each scored four goals, helping their nation’s campaign with important attacking contributions.

Their performances highlighted Cameroon’s strength in depth in forward areas.

Ethiopia’s Mihret also finished the round with four goals, matching the Cameroonian duo and confirming her status as one of the standout attacking players of the opening stage.

Further down the list, several players registered three goals each, keeping themselves within reach of the leading group.

Ghana’s Mensah, Kenya’s Achieng, and Tanzania’s B.

Steven all contributed important goals for their respective sides, ensuring competitive balance across the qualification round.

The scoring charts reflect a wide spread of talent across the continent, with players from multiple nations making their mark early in the competition.

The opening round has already provided a clear indication of attacking quality, with several standout individual performances.

While the focus has been on goal scorers, the results also underline the unpredictable nature of the qualifiers.

Matches have produced shifts in momentum, with individual brilliance often proving decisive in determining which teams progress.

Benin’s comeback against Burkina Faso stands out as one of the defining stories of the round.

Gandonou’s four-goal performance in the second leg was instrumental in overturning the deficit, demonstrating both resilience and clinical finishing under pressure.

For Guinea, Touré’s consistent scoring across both legs of their tie against Niger highlighted her importance to the team’s attacking structure.

Her ability to deliver in key moments ensured her side maintained control throughout the contest.

With the first round now concluded, attention turns to the next stage of qualification.

Teams will be aiming to build on their progress while players look to maintain or improve their scoring form.

The early standings in the top scorers’ list are already shaping expectations for the remainder of the qualifiers.

However, with several rounds still to be played, the race remains open.

At this stage, Gandonou and Touré lead the way with five goals each, closely followed by a group of challengers on four.

The margins remain tight, suggesting further changes are likely as the competition progresses.

As the qualifiers continue, attacking performances are expected to remain central to success.

The opening round has shown that individual quality in front of goal can quickly alter the course of ties, and that trend is likely to continue in the rounds ahead.

For now, the spotlight remains on the players who have set the pace, with Gandonou and Touré emerging as the early leaders in the race for the tournament’s top scorer.