The five-time FIFA U-17 World Cup champions departed Nigeria from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Tuesday morning and subsequently settled into their hotel in the Burkinabe capital.
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Eaglets drawn in Group B
Nigeria have been placed in Group B alongside Côte d’Ivoire and Niger Republic.
The tournament serves as the WAFU-B qualifying route to next year’s U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, making the competition particularly important for Nigeria after missing the last two editions of the continental tournament.
The Golden Eaglets last reached the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2019, when the tournament was hosted by Brazil. They will therefore be aiming to use the WAFU-B championship as the first step towards returning to both continental and global youth football.
Uwejamomere names 25-man squad
Head coach Eboboritse Uwejamomere selected a 25-man squad following an extensive screening camp in Abuja involving 62 players.
The final squad consists of three goalkeepers, seven defenders, eight midfielders and seven forwards.
The squad includes goalkeeper Mutiu Adenle, midfielder Israel Irabor and forwards Godswill Usoro, Daniel Lawrence, Chiedozie Igboenyobe, Faruq Azeez, David Fagbamila, Mubarak Fasiu and Abiodun John.
Final preparations before opening match
The Eaglets will now continue their tactical and technical preparations in Ouagadougou before beginning their Group B campaign.
The Nigeria Football Federation confirmed that the team would have eight days of preparation after departing Abuja before their first match on 14 October.
Nigeria also played a final warm-up match against Derby Academy in Abuja, drawing 1-1 as the coaching staff assessed the squad ahead of the tournament.
Olopade demands qualification
National Sports Commission Director-General Bukola Olopade visited the team during their final training session in Abuja and urged the young players to embrace the responsibility of representing Nigeria.
Olopade stressed that the immediate objective is to qualify for the U-17 AFCON, with the longer-term ambition of reaching the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
He also promised that the government would reward the team if they succeed in bringing the WAFU-B title home.
Nigeria chasing a return to the top
The Golden Eaglets are two-time WAFU-B U-17 champions, but finished with a bronze medal at the previous edition and subsequently missed the 2026 U-17 AFCON.
With Nigeria's rich history at U-17 level — including five FIFA U-17 World Cup titles — expectations will be high when Uwejamomere's young side begins its campaign in Burkina Faso.
The Eaglets' immediate task is to negotiate Group B and progress to the knockout stages, with a place in the final providing a pathway to the 2027 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.