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Golden Eaglets

Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets have suffered a devastating elimination from the 2026 WAFU-B U-17 Championship, sealing a consecutive double absence from both the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations and the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2027.

The five-time world champions crashed out of the regional qualifiers following a tense 1-1 draw against Ivory Coast at the Stade du 4 Août in Ouagadougou on Saturday. Entering the fixture under immense pressure after a shock 2-1 defeat to Niger Republic in their opening match, head coach Eboboritse Uwejamomere’s side needed an outright victory to keep their qualification hopes alive.

The task grew steeper in the 16th minute when Alex Fousseni fired Ivory Coast ahead, placing the young Nigerians on the back foot.

Despite sustained pressure, the Eaglets struggled to break down a resilient Ivorian backline until the 84th minute, when Abiodun John pulled Nigeria level.

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However, late efforts to find a decisive winner proved unsuccessful, leaving the team rooted to the bottom of Group B with just a single point.

Niger Republic claimed top spot in the group with four points, while Ivory Coast advanced as runners-up with two points.

The tournament exit extends a dismal era for Nigeria’s cadet team, marking their third consecutive absence from the U-17 AFCON after missing the 2025 and 2026 editions hosted by Morocco.

More significantly, the Golden Eaglets will miss the FIFA U-17 World Cup for the fourth consecutive time, extending an international absence that stretches back to their last appearance in Brazil in 2019.