Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets have been eradicated from the 2026 WAFU-B U-17 Championship after drawing 1-1 with Côte d’Ivoire on Saturday in Burkina Faso, ending their hopes of qualifying for the 2027 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.
The consequence condemned the staff, coached by Eboboritse Uwejamomere, to an early exit after their opening defeat to Niger Republic left them needing a victory to preserve their marketing campaign alive.
Nigeria’s failure to beat the Ivorians means the five-time FIFA U-17 World Cup champions will miss one other version of the continental match and stay absent from the worldwide competitors, which they final featured in 2019.
The Golden Eaglets scored within the eightieth minute towards Côte d’Ivoire, however the late aim was inadequate to safe the victory they wanted. The draw left Nigeria unable to advance to the semi-finals, whereas Niger and Côte d’Ivoire progressed.
The elimination represents one other setback for Nigeria’s youth soccer programme, given the nation’s historic success at U-17 degree.
The result’s notably disappointing given Nigeria’s report on the competitors and the expectations surrounding Uwejamomere’s staff.
Nigeria entered the match in search of a return to the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations after lacking the earlier two editions. The newest failure means the nation will miss a 3rd consecutive version of the continental championship, in accordance to experiences on the staff’s elimination.
The Golden Eaglets may even miss the 2027 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar, extending their absence from the worldwide match to 4 consecutive editions. FIFA information present that Nigeria final competed on the 2019 version in Brazil, the place they reached the spherical of 16.
Uwejamomere’s confidence proves misplaced
Ahead of Saturday’s decisive encounter, Uwejamomere had expressed confidence that his gamers might get well from their opening defeat to Niger.
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“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,” he mentioned earlier than the match.
The coach acknowledged the strain on his staff, describing the fixture as a must-win recreation, whereas urging his gamers to stay composed and imagine of their capability to safe the required consequence.
However, Nigeria couldn’t flip that confidence into the victory wanted to preserve their qualification hopes alive.
The early exit raises questions in regards to the preparation and growth of Nigeria’s youth groups, notably because the nation seeks to rebuild its popularity in age-grade soccer.
Nigeria stay essentially the most profitable nation in FIFA U-17 World Cup historical past, having received the title 5 instances, in 1985, 1993, 2007, 2013 and 2015.
That pedigree makes the most recent failure notably regarding, with the Golden Eaglets now going through one other prolonged watch for a return to the continental and international levels.
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