Romaine Gandonou’s two-goal breakthrough puts Benin teenager in global spotlight

Romaine Yenido Gandonou became the first Beninese player to score twice in a Women’s U20 World Cup match when her goals secured a historic 2-2 draw with Mexico on Saturday, 5 September 2026.

The 15-year-old forward struck in Benin’s opening game of the tournament, earning her country its first point at the competition and immediately establishing herself as one of the names to watch. Born on 13 November 2010 in Akpro-Misserete, Gandonou is already regarded as one of the brightest emerging talents in Benin’s women’s game.

Her performances have attracted attention well beyond her home country. The teenager’s remarkable scoring record has placed her on the radar of leading European clubs, while her progress is being viewed as a sign of a new generation for women’s football in Benin.

Gandonou’s route into football began with the encouragement of her father, Victor Gandonou. In her early development, she also built the physical qualities that have become central to her game, particularly her explosive pace. She sharpened that speed through intensive athletics training while beginning her football education at Etoile FC d’Akpro-Misserete.

Her club career accelerated after she joined Tambours FC d’Adjarra. During the 2023-24 season, she scored 53 goals in just 14 second-division appearances, a tally that helped lift the club into Benin’s top flight.

She continued to deliver at the highest domestic level the following campaign, finishing as the leading scorer in the Beninese first division with 19 goals. Her scoring rate rose again in 2025-26, when she found the net 25 times in only nine league matches before the international break.

Gandonou has also played a decisive role for the Amazones du Benin. A key figure in the country’s youth sides at both under-17 and under-20 level, she powered Benin through the qualifying campaign for the World Cup.

Across six matches in the Francophone-zone qualifiers, she scored 14 goals. That run included a memorable four-goal performance against Burkina Faso, further underlining her influence in front of goal.

She has already been selected for the Benin senior national team and has scored at that level. The forward, who admires France and Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe, has also recently completed promising trials at Paris Saint-Germain’s facilities.

Her double against Mexico was therefore more than an eye-catching individual display. It delivered a landmark result for Benin at the Women’s U20 World Cup and showed that Gandonou is no longer simply a prospect for the future. At 15, she is already making her mark on the international stage.