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 group, coached by Eboboritse Uwejamomere, to an early exit after their opening defeat to Niger Republic left them needing a victory to maintain 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 event and stay absent from the worldwide competitors, which they final featured in 2019.
The Golden Eaglets scored within the eightieth minute in opposition to 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 stage.
The result’s significantly disappointing given Nigeria’s file on the competitors and the expectations surrounding Uwejamomere’s group.
Nigeria entered the event 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 group’s elimination.
The Golden Eaglets will even miss the 2027 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar, extending their absence from the worldwide event 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 recuperate 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 group, describing the fixture as a must-win sport, whereas urging his gamers to stay composed and imagine of their potential to safe the required consequence.
However, Nigeria couldn’t flip that confidence into the victory wanted to maintain their qualification hopes alive.
The early exit raises questions concerning the preparation and growth of Nigeria’s youth groups, significantly because the nation seeks to rebuild its fame in age-grade soccer.
Nigeria stay essentially the most profitable nation in FIFA U-17 World Cup historical past, having gained the title 5 occasions, in 1985, 1993, 2007, 2013 and 2015.
That pedigree makes the newest failure significantly regarding, with the Golden Eaglets now going through one other prolonged await a return to the continental and international phases.
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