Poland end Benin’s Under-20 Women’s World Cup run despite another Romaine Gandonou goal

Benin’s Under-20 Women’s World Cup campaign ended with a 4-1 defeat by Poland, despite Romaine Gandonou scoring for the third time in the tournament.

The result came on Friday, 11 September 2026, at the Municipal Stadium in Bielsko-Biała, as the host nation secured a convincing victory in the competition’s third round of matches.

The match proved another severe test of elite-level football for the Benin side. The Amazones U20 leave the tournament with their heads held high, but their campaign concludes with another heavy defeat.

Poland had already established a commanding advantage before half-time and continued to exert pressure after the interval. Benin’s defence eventually gave way again as Grzywinska added two further goals in the 63rd and 70th minutes to complete a memorable hat-trick.

Benin struggled to retain possession throughout the game, controlling only 31% of the ball. Poland’s technical accuracy also kept the West African side under sustained pressure, with Benin facing 21 shots during the match.

The one significant moment of encouragement for Benin came late on, once again through Gandonou. The young forward beat the Polish goalkeeper in the 87th minute to reduce the deficit to 4-1 and finish her personal tournament on a historic note.

The goal was Gandonou’s third of the competition. After scoring a notable brace against Mexico in Benin’s opening match, the forward has emerged as an international revelation and provided the main positive for her side despite another painful elimination.