Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets have been handed a challenging group assignment at the 2026 WAFU B U-17 Championship, with Côte d’Ivoire and Niger Republic emerging as their group-stage opponents.
The draw places Nigeria in a three-team group alongside the two West African sides as preparations intensify for the regional youth competition.
The Golden Eaglets had been awaiting the outcome of the draw after opening camp and stepping up preparations for the tournament.
Nigeria’s U-17 side, one of Africa’s most decorated youth teams, will be seeking to navigate the group successfully and put itself in contention for the championship.
The competition is particularly important because the WAFU B U-17 tournament serves as a pathway to the continental U-17 competition, making every group-stage fixture significant for the participating nations.
The Golden Eaglets have continued their preparations in Abuja, including friendly matches aimed at assessing players and fine-tuning the squad ahead of the tournament. Recent preparations included a 4-0 victory over Simonben Academy and a goalless draw against Galadima FC.
Nigeria’s pedigree at the age-grade level is considerable. The Golden Eaglets have won the FIFA U-17 World Cup five times, underlining the country’s long-standing strength in youth football.
The Eaglets will now turn their attention to Côte d’Ivoire and Niger, with the coaching crew expected to intensify preparations for what promises to be a demanding group campaign.
The tournament is scheduled to hold in Burkina Faso from October 4 to 17, 2026, according to reports on the team’s preparations.
For Nigeria, the immediate objective will be to secure progression from the group and build momentum towards another successful campaign on the regional stage.
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