WAFU-B U-17 Championship: Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets crash out, to miss AFCON, World Cup again

Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets have been eliminated from the 2026 WAFU-B U-17 Championship after drawing 1-1 with Côte d’Ivoire on Saturday in Burkina Faso, ending their hopes of qualifying for the 2027 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.

The result condemned the team, coached by Eboboritse Uwejamomere, to an early exit after their opening defeat to Niger Republic left them needing a victory to keep their campaign alive.

Nigeria’s failure to beat the Ivorians means the five-time FIFA U-17 World Cup champions will miss another edition of the continental tournament and remain absent from the global competition, which they last featured in 2019.

The Golden Eaglets scored in the 80th minute against Côte d’Ivoire, but the late goal was insufficient to secure the victory they needed. The draw left Nigeria unable to advance to the semi-finals, while Niger and Côte d’Ivoire progressed.

The elimination represents another setback for Nigeria’s youth football programme, given the country’s historic success at U-17 level.

The result is particularly disappointing given Nigeria’s record at the competition and the expectations surrounding Uwejamomere’s team.

Nigeria entered the tournament seeking a return to the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations after missing the previous two editions. The latest failure means the country will miss a third consecutive edition of the continental championship, according to reports on the team’s elimination.

The Golden Eaglets will also miss the 2027 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar, extending their absence from the global tournament to four consecutive editions. FIFA records show that Nigeria last competed at the 2019 edition in Brazil, where they reached the round of 16.

Uwejamomere’s confidence proves misplaced

Ahead of Saturday’s decisive encounter, Uwejamomere had expressed confidence that his players could recover from their opening defeat to Niger.

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“We had a setback in the game against Niger Republic, but we are in great spirit to overcome it as we play Côte d’Ivoire on Saturday,” he said before the match.

The coach acknowledged the pressure on his team, describing the fixture as a must-win game, while urging his players to remain composed and believe in their ability to secure the required result.

However, Nigeria could not turn that confidence into the victory needed to keep their qualification hopes alive.

The early exit raises questions about the preparation and development of Nigeria’s youth teams, particularly as the country seeks to rebuild its reputation in age-grade football.

Nigeria remain the most successful nation in FIFA U-17 World Cup history, having won the title five times, in 1985, 1993, 2007, 2013 and 2015.

That pedigree makes the latest failure particularly concerning, with the Golden Eaglets now facing another lengthy wait for a return to the continental and global stages.