Nigeria's Golden Eaglets kicked off their 2026 WAFU B U-17 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers with a 2-1 loss to Niger. The match took place in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Abdoul Razaq Zada scored first for Niger in the 19th minute. Abdoul Rakilou added another goal for Niger in the 86th minute.
Mubarak Fasiu managed to score for Nigeria in the fifth minute of added time. But this late goal was not enough to stop the Eaglets from losing their first Group B match.
This defeat gave Niger all three points, placing them at the top of the group with four points from two matches. Niger also secured a spot in the semi-finals with this win.
Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire are still in the race for the last semi-final spot. Côte d’Ivoire has one point from their first match, while Nigeria is still looking for their first point. Both teams have one game left to play.
The Eaglets must aim for a win in their next match to boost their chances of making it to the semi-finals and keep their hopes alive for the continental tournament.
Saminou Salissou Nouhou of Niger, wearing the number four jersey, was named Man of the Match for his strong performance in the game.
The 2026 WAFU B U-17 tournament is important because it helps teams qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations. Everyone is keen to secure their spot in the continental finals.
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