Golden Eaglets Drawn Against Côte d’Ivoire and Niger in WAFU B U-17 Championship

ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets have been drawn in Group B alongside Côte d’Ivoire and Niger for the upcoming WAFU Zone B U-17 Championship.

The draw places the five-time FIFA U-17 World Cup champions in a competitive three-team section. Hosts Burkina Faso head Group A, which also features Ghana, Benin and Togo.

The regional tournament, scheduled to take place in Burkina Faso from 10 to 23 October 2026, serves as the qualifying competition for the 2027 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations. The top teams from the zone will earn the right to represent WAFU Zone B at the continental finals.

Nigeria return to the competition after reaching the semi-finals of the previous edition. The Golden Eaglets will be aiming to go one step further this time, with the clear objective of securing both the regional title and a place at the 2027 U-17 AFCON.

Head coach Eboboritse Uwejamomere has been overseeing preparations in Abuja, where the squad has been engaged in a series of friendly matches against local academy sides. Recent results include a convincing victory and a hard-fought draw as the technical crew fine-tunes the team ahead of the October tournament.

The group-stage format means every match will carry significant weight. A strong showing against Côte d’Ivoire, traditional rivals at youth level, and Niger will be essential if Nigeria are to progress to the knockout stages and ultimately claim one of the qualification spots on offer.

The Golden Eaglets remain one of Africa’s most successful youth sides and will head into the competition as one of the favourites. Their pedigree at both regional and global level continues to set high expectations among supporters.

Attention now turns to the final phase of preparations as the squad looks to build momentum for the challenges ahead in Burkina Faso. Success in the WAFU B Championship would keep Nigeria firmly on the pathway to another appearance at the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.