Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets have been eliminated from the WAFU-B U-17 Championship after a 1-1 draw with Côte d’Ivoire, ruling them out of the 2027 U-17 AFCON and World Cup.
The Golden Eaglets, Nigeria’s Under-17 national team, crashed out of the WAFU-B U-17 Championship in Burkina Faso on Saturday.
The Eaglets drew 1-1 with Côte d’Ivoire in their final group game and finished bottom of the group. Nigeria had lost 2-1 to Niger Republic in their opening game earlier in the week.
The result means the Golden Eaglets will miss the 2027 Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco. The U-17 AFCON serves as the qualifier for the age-grade World Cup, so Nigeria will also miss the 2027 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar. It will be the fourth straight edition of the global tournament Nigeria has missed.
The Match
Nigeria, coached by Eboboritse Uwejamomere, went into the Côte d’Ivoire game needing a win to stay alive, but could not get it.
Defender Alex Bamba put the Ivorians ahead in the 17th minute, bundling home a corner. Côte d’Ivoire took the lead into the break, helped by Nigeria’s wastefulness in front of goal. Mubarak Fasiu missed a clear chance to level before half-time.
The Ivorians were the better side for most of the second half and hit the bar from a corner. Nigeria equalised late through substitute Columbus Igboenyobe, who scored from a rebound, giving the Eaglets a glimmer of hope.
A frantic finish offered two chances to win. Abiodun John, clean through on goal, lofted his effort over the bar, and the Côte d’Ivoire goalkeeper saved in added time to confirm Nigeria’s elimination.
The Group
Niger won the group with four points, Côte d’Ivoire finished second with two, and Nigeria finished bottom with one. Niger and Côte d’Ivoire advance to the semi-finals.
It is the first time the Golden Eaglets, two-time champions of the tournament, have gone out of the WAFU-B Championship at the group stage.
A Fall From the Top
Nigeria is the most successful country in the history of the men’s U-17 World Cup, with five titles. The Golden Eaglets last played in the competition in 2019.
The tournament offered Nigeria a route back to the continental stage after missing the previous editions of the U-17 AFCON. Saturday’s result ends that hope for another cycle and extends a difficult period for the country’s age-grade football.
