Golden Eaglets. Photo Credit: NFF Comms
West African giants Nigeria and Ghana have discovered their group stage opponents ahead of the WAFU B U-17 tournament slated for later this month, Soccernet.ng reports.
Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets now know the path they must take if they are to return to the continental stage.
The five-time world champions have been drawn alongside Burkina Faso and Benin Republic in Group B of the WAFU B U-17 Championship, which begins on September 20 in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire.
The draw, conducted on Thursday, placed hosts Côte d’Ivoire in Group A alongside Ghana, Niger Republic and Togo. The two groups will battle for spots at next year’s Africa U-17 Cup of Nations, which also serves as the gateway to the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Nigeria missed out on the last edition of the continental finals, a painful blow for a nation with unrivalled pedigree at youth level. This year’s qualifiers therefore carry added weight for Manu Garba’s side.
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Preparation has been intensive. The Eaglets have played 12 warm-up games, winning 10, drawing once and losing only once. Their most recent outing was a commanding 3-0 victory over Ejigbo City on Wednesday.
Burkina Faso, who share the group with Nigeria, are no strangers to upsetting the region’s powerhouses, while Benin Republic will see an opportunity in a three-team group to push for qualification. It means every fixture in Group B will be decisive, leaving little room for slip-ups.
The Golden Eaglets remain the most successful U-17 team in the world, with five World Cup triumphs and two African titles.
The competition runs from September 20 to October 3 in Yamoussoukro. Only the two finalists from WAFU Zone B will move on to the 2025 U-17 AFCON.
Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele
Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele turns into a ball of passion when writing about Nigerian football and its talents, whether rising stars or established legends, locally and abroad.
From the deepest corners of the Middle East, to the green fields of the Americas, to the celebrated grounds in Europe, and the rich soils of Africa, Imhons is more than glad, usually with a glass of a tasty drink nearby, to capture the essence of the game, by connecting the dots between culture, identity, and football.