Nigeria Miss FIFA U-17 World Cup for Fourth Consecutive Edition After WAFU B U-17 Cup Exit
Golden Eaglets bow out after a defeat to Niger and a draw against Côte d’Ivoire, missing the 2027 U-17 AFCON and extending Nigeria’s FIFA U-17 World Cup absence.
Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets have been eliminated from the 2026 WAFU B U-17 Boys Cup following a 1-1 draw against Côte d’Ivoire on Saturday, October 17, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
The result leaves Nigeria with just one point from two matches, ending their hopes of qualifying for the 2027 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations and the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
The Golden Eaglets began their campaign with a 2-1 defeat to Niger on Wednesday, October 14. Abdoul Razaq Zada opened the scoring in the 19th minute before Abdoul Rakilou doubled Niger’s advantage in the 86th minute. Mubarak Fasiu pulled one back for Nigeria in the 90+5th minute, but it was not enough to prevent defeat.
Nigeria needed a positive result against Côte d’Ivoire to keep their qualification hopes alive. However, Alex Fousseni gave the Ivorians the lead in the 16th minute before Abiodun John equalised for the Golden Eaglets in the 84th minute.
The draw was insufficient for Nigeria, who finished their two-match campaign with one point. Niger topped the group with four points from one win and one draw, while Côte d’Ivoire finished with two points after drawing both matches.
Golden Eaglets’ World Cup Absence Continues
Nigeria’s elimination extends the country’s absence from the FIFA U-17 World Cup. The Golden Eaglets last qualified for the global tournament in 2019, meaning they will miss four consecutive editions: 2023, 2025, 2026 and 2027.
The latest setback also rules Nigeria out of the 2027 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, adding to the disappointment surrounding the country’s youth football development.
For a nation that has won the FIFA U-17 World Cup five times, the continued failure to qualify for the global competition represents a significant concern.
Final standings
Niger: 4 points, +1 goal difference
Côte d’Ivoire: 2 points, 0 goal difference
Nigeria: 1 point, 1 goal difference
The Golden Eaglets’ campaign ends with one draw and one defeat, as Niger advance from the group.
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