Golden Eaglets learn opponents for 2026 WAFU-B U-17 AFCON Qualifiers

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Nigeria’s U-17 men’s national team have discovered their path to the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations as the draw for the WAFU-B qualifiers was conducted on Friday.

The five-time world champions will compete in Group B alongside Burkina Faso and Benin Republic.

Hosts Côte d’Ivoire headline Group A, where they will battle Niger Republic, Togo, and regional rivals Ghana.

The tournament will run from September 20 to October 3, 2025, serving as the qualification route to the 2026 U-17 AFCON. Only the two finalists will secure automatic tickets to the continental showpiece.

The Golden Eaglets will be out to right the wrongs of their last outing.

Despite finishing third in the 2023 WAFU-B U-17 tournament, Nigeria failed to qualify for the AFCON — a rare setback for the record world champions at youth level.

With qualification at stake and a chance to reclaim regional dominance, all eyes will be on coach-led Nigeria’s youngsters to deliver a strong performance when the action kicks off in Côte d’Ivoire.

Oluwaseun Oyediji

Oluwaseun Babatunde Oyediji is a multi-media sports journalist with over 10 years experience in Information Communication Technology (ICT), women's football, and beach soccer reportage.The prolific writer is the Media Assistant to Nigeria Beach Soccer League and Africa Beach Soccer Union as well as contributor on Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) website.He has covered multiple national and international football tournaments including Championship of African Nations (CHAN 2020), CAF Women's Champions League (2023), and Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2023).Since 2021, Oyediji has covered the NWFL Premiership especially the season ending Super Six Playoffs.A member of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Ogun state chapter is also the image maker of the Remo Sports Development Council under the leadership of Chief Falilat Ogunkoya and David Osuolale.

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