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Golden Eaglets’ U17 Afcon hopes in limbo despite tournament expansion

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Golden Eaglets’ U17 Afcon hopes in limbo despite tournament expansion

By Dayo Awoniyi

Despite the expansion of the 2025 U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to 16 teams, Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets still face an uncertain path to qualification, as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed they have not yet secured a spot in the tournament.

CAF made this clarification following recent speculation about the Golden Eaglets’ chances, particularly after they failed to qualify during the WAFU B qualifiers in Ghana last year.

The African football governing body has outlined the details for the 25th edition of the tournament, which will now feature 16 teams. However, it has emphasized that Nigeria has not yet booked its place, unlike Mali, which has already qualified.

Currently, only 10 teams have confirmed their spots in the tournament, leaving the Golden Eaglets with an uncertain future ahead of the draw later this month. They will be hoping for another opportunity to qualify for the competition, which will take place in Morocco.

CAF’s statement has dampened the optimism of Nigerian football fans who had been hopeful that the team would secure a spot despite the expanded format. However, the door is still open for the Golden Eaglets to grab any available opportunities in the qualification process.

With their AFCON hopes still hanging in the balance, the Golden Eaglets will be closely monitoring the qualification process, eager to prove themselves and earn a place at the 2025 U17 AFCON.

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