Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets are out of the 2026 WAFU-B U-17 Championship. They drew 1-1 with Côte d’Ivoire on Saturday in Burkina Faso. This result ends their chances of qualifying for the 2027 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.
The draw means the team, led by coach Eboboritse Uwejamomere, has been eliminated early. They lost their first match against Niger Republic and needed a win to stay in the tournament.
Nigeria’s failure to beat Côte d’Ivoire means the five-time FIFA U-17 World Cup champions will miss another chance to play in the continental tournament. They have not participated in the global competition since 2019.
The Golden Eaglets scored in the 80th minute against Côte d’Ivoire. Unfortunately, that late goal was not enough for victory. The draw means Nigeria cannot move on to the semi-finals, while Niger and Côte d’Ivoire will progress.
This elimination is another blow for Nigeria’s youth football program. The country has a strong history in U-17 football.
The result is especially disappointing considering Nigeria’s past successes at this tournament and the hopes for Uwejamomere’s team.
Nigeria entered this tournament looking to return to the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations after missing the last two editions. This latest failure means they will miss the continental championship for the third time in a row.
The Golden Eaglets will also not participate in the 2027 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar. This extends their absence from the global tournament to four straight editions. FIFA records show that Nigeria last played in the 2019 tournament in Brazil, where they reached the round of 16.
Before Saturday’s crucial match, Uwejamomere was confident his players could bounce back from the opening loss to Niger. He said, “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.”
The coach felt the pressure on his team, calling the match a must-win. He urged his players to stay calm and trust in their ability to get the needed result.
Unfortunately, Nigeria could not turn that confidence into a win. This early exit brings up concerns about how Nigeria’s youth teams are being prepared and developed. The country is trying to rebuild its image in age-grade football.
Nigeria is still the most successful country in FIFA U-17 World Cup history, having won the title five times. They won in 1985, 1993, 2007, 2013, and 2015.
This strong history makes the latest failure even more worrying. The Golden Eaglets will now face a long wait before returning to continental and global competitions.
Drop your comment
No comments yet — be the first to drop the gist 👇