Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets have been eliminated from the 2026 WAFU-B Under-17 Championship following a 1–1 draw against Côte d’Ivoire in Burkina Faso.

The result means Nigeria will miss the 2027 Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the 2027 FIFA Under-17 World Cup.

According to a report published by Punch on October 18, 2026, Nigeria needed a victory in the decisive group match after losing 2–1 to Niger Republic in their opening game.

The pressure was therefore high on head coach Eboboritse Uwejamomere and his players as they sought to keep their qualification hopes alive.

Côte d’Ivoire took the lead through Alex Fousseni in the first half, leaving Nigeria with the difficult task of finding an equaliser.

The Golden Eaglets continued pushing forward in search of a goal and eventually drew level late in the match through Abiodun John. However, they could not find the winning goal before the final whistle.

The draw was not enough to save Nigeria’s campaign, as the team finished without the victory it needed to progress to the next stage.

Nigeria’s elimination is another setback for a country with a proud history in youth football. The Golden Eaglets have won the FIFA Under-17 World Cup five times, but they last appeared at the tournament in 2019.

Missing the 2027 competition will extend the team’s absence from the global tournament to four consecutive editions.

The result also raises fresh questions about the preparation and development of Nigeria’s youth football teams. Consistent investment in grassroots football, coaching and player development will be important if the country hopes to return to the top level of international youth competition.

For now, the Golden Eaglets must reflect on their disappointing campaign, while football officials consider the lessons that can be learned from another early exit.