Golden Eaglets coach Eboboritse Uwejamomere has apologised to Nigerians following the team’s failure to qualify for the 2027 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations after a disappointing campaign at the WAFU-B U-17 Championship in Burkina Faso.
Nigeria finished bottom of Group B with one point from two matches, missing out on the semi-finals after losing 2-1 to Niger Republic and drawing 1-1 with Côte d’Ivoire.
The results mean the five-time FIFA U-17 World Cup champions will miss the next edition of the continental tournament and, consequently, the 2027 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.
Uwejamomere acknowledged the frustration among supporters, admitting that the team’s performance had left both the players and coaching staff disappointed.
“For the fans back home, it’s a bitter feeling. A lot of them probably hate us right now, but this is normal because they are proud Nigerians and they want us to win every game, every tournament,” he said.
“The only thing I can say to them is to forgive us because the disappointment they feel is also what I’m feeling. My players are also feeling the same disappointment.”
The coach also urged Nigerians to recognise that the players remain young and have time to learn from the setback as they continue their football careers.
The early elimination represents another setback for Nigeria’s age-grade football programme, with the country now set to miss a fourth consecutive FIFA U-17 World Cup.
The failure has renewed concerns about the preparation and competitiveness of the national team at youth level.
Nigeria’s record of five titles at the FIFA U-17 World Cup has long established the country as a powerhouse in the competition, making the latest qualification failure particularly disappointing for supporters.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: [email protected]