Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets have failed to qualify for the 2027 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations after being eliminated from the WAFU-B U-17 Championship in Burkina Faso.
The Nigerian side played a 1-1 draw against Ivory Coast at the Stade du 4-Août in Ouagadougou on Saturday, finishing bottom of Group B with just one point from two matches.
The result ended Nigeria’s campaign without a victory and ruled the team out of the continental tournament scheduled to hold in Morocco in 2027.
Columbus Igboenyobe scored a late equaliser for Nigeria after Ivory Coast had taken the lead through Alex Bamba in the first half.
Bamba put the Ivorians ahead in the 17th minute, bundling the ball into the net following a corner-kick delivery into the Nigerian penalty area.
Ivory Coast continued to threaten after the break, with the crossbar denying the team an opportunity to extend its lead.
Nigeria, coached by Eboboritse Uwejamomere, intensified its efforts to find an equaliser but struggled to convert its chances as the Ivorians maintained their defensive organisation.
Abiodun John missed an opportunity to put Nigeria ahead when he fired over the bar after finding himself through on goal, while the Ivory Coast goalkeeper made another important save in stoppage time.
The Golden Eaglets eventually drew level five minutes before the end when Igboenyobe reacted quickly to a rebound and finished to give Nigeria a lifeline.
However, the equaliser was not enough to keep Nigeria’s qualification hopes alive, as the team finished behind Ivory Coast and group winners Niger.
The outcome marked a disappointing campaign for the former African champions, who finished the competition without a win and recorded their lowest-ever points haul in the tournament, according to the report.
Nigeria’s failure to progress means the country will be absent from the 2027 U-17 AFCON in Morocco.
