Nigeria ask CAF to reconsider U20 AFCON place after WAFU B final defeat

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has appealed to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to award Nigeria’s Under-20 side a place at the U20 Africa Cup of Nations after the team missed out on qualification through the WAFU B tournament.

Nigeria lost 4-1 to Burkina Faso in Sunday’s WAFU B final, leaving them without one of the two qualification places available to teams from the West African region.

The other place was awarded to Ghana as hosts of the tournament. That decision means only the WAFU B winners were granted an automatic route to the U20 AFCON, ending the previous practice of both finalists qualifying for the continental competition.

The NFF is now asking CAF to make an exception for Nigeria, using the treatment of Tunisia in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations as the basis for its request.

According to OwnGoalNigeria.com, the federation argues that the qualification arrangements were jointly agreed by all four semi-finalists before the WAFU B tournament began. The issue was reportedly discussed in the context of the 2025 AFCON, where Tunisia were allowed to enter the competition despite finishing third in their qualifying zone.

The 2025 tournament was originally due to be hosted by Cote d’Ivoire, but Egypt were drafted in as replacements after Cote d’Ivoire withdrew. Tunisia were then given a place in the finals, which increased the number of participating teams to 13.

An NFF official confirmed that Nigeria was relying on that precedent in its appeal to CAF.

“We are using the 2025 case of Tunisia to back our demand and hopefully we will get a favorable response. It was a joint decision signed by all four semi finalists not just us (Nigeria)”, the official said.

The federation also stressed that the agreement concerning the qualification process was not made by Nigeria alone. It was, according to the official, signed by all four teams that reached the semi-finals of the WAFU B competition before the matches were played.

Nigeria’s appeal follows a disappointing final in which Burkina Faso secured the regional title with a convincing victory. The result meant Burkina Faso took the qualification place reserved for the WAFU B champions, while Ghana’s position as tournament hosts secured the second spot.

The NFF is therefore seeking CAF’s consideration for Nigeria despite the team’s defeat in the final. Its argument is that the earlier understanding among the semi-finalists, together with the precedent involving Tunisia, should allow the Nigerian side to be included in the U20 AFCON.

CAF has yet to announce whether it will accept the request or alter the qualification list for the tournament.