WAFU U17
Nigeria Eaglets storm Accra for WAFU B U17 title defence
Champions Nigeria will arrive in the Ghanaian capital, Accra on Saturday for the defence of their WAFU B U17 Championship title at this year’s edition of the competition that commences on Wednesday, 15th May.
The Golden Eaglets, five-time champions of the world, swept aside every opposition before them to achieve glory in another Ghanaian city, Kumasi two years ago, but failed to light up the Africa U17 Cup of Nations in Algeria and were therefore ineligible to compete for another world title in Indonesia.
However, 2013 FIFA World Cup – winning coach Manu Garba has been restored to the squad and will take charge of the ensemble that will tackle Burkina Faso, Niger Republic and Togo in Group B of the upcoming WAFU B tournament, with the objective being qualification to take part in next year’s Africa U17 Cup of Nations.
Garba will lead a technical crew that has the mandate of not only successfully defending the regional crown, but to continue to improve the squad for a great outing at the U17 AFCON and onwards to a probable sixth world title.
The Eaglets begin their defence of the title when they confront their counterparts from Burkina Faso at the University Stadium on Thursday, 16th May with kickoff set for 3pm Ghana time (4pm Nigeria time), before matches against Niger Republic on Sunday, 19th May (6pm Ghana, 7pm Nigeria) and Togo on Wednesday, 22nd May (4pm Ghana, 5pm Nigeria).
The match against Niger Republic will also hold at the University Stadium while the clash with Togo will take place at the Accra Sports Stadium.
19 EAGLETS FOR WAFU B U17 CHAMPIONSHIP
Adekunle Sunday Adedigba, Sylvester Chizoba Chika, Daniel Ofonime Mendie, Destiny Samuel, Abdulwaris Yunus, Boluwatife David Ekishola, Ibrahim Damilare Abdulganiyu, Edward Oloche Ochigbo, Rapha Adams, Simon Karshe Cletus, Oreoluwa Olawale Agbenla, Okorie Marvelous Chibuike, Abdulmuiz Adeleke, John Ogwuche, Qurib Adetola, Chinedu Levi Dominic, Abdulmuiz Oluwatimilehin Oladimeji, Daniel Vowero Arierhi, Imrana Muhammad
Five-time FIFA U-17 World Cup champions, Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets, will renew their long-standing rivalry with Ghana’s Black Starlets when both sides clash in the second semi-final of the ongoing WAFU-B U17 Championship at the Stade Charles Konan Banny on Tuesday, with kick-off set for 8:00 p.m. Nigeria time.
The Golden Eaglets have impressed so far in the competition, topping Group B with four points, having scored four goals and conceded just one. Their solid form has made them one of the tournament’s favourites as they chase a place in the final and a ticket to the 2026 Africa U17 Cup of Nations.
In contrast, the Black Starlets had a difficult path to the last four. They began their campaign with a 1–1 draw against Togo, suffered a 3–0 defeat to hosts Côte d’Ivoire, and looked headed for elimination before two late goals secured a crucial win over Niger Republic, ensuring their progression from Group A.
Tuesday’s encounter is expected to be a thrilling battle between two of West Africa’s most successful football nations. History, however, favours Nigeria. The Golden Eaglets defeated Ghana 4–2 in the opening match of the 2022 edition hosted in Cape Coast, and followed it up with another 3–2 victory in the bronze medal match of the last edition held in Accra.
A win for Nigeria on Tuesday will not only continue their dominance over Ghana at this level but also guarantee qualification for next year’s Africa U17 Cup of Nations, bringing them a step closer to reclaiming continental glory.
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Less than 24 hours to the clash between Golden Eaglets of Nigeria and Baby Stallions of Burkina Faso at the on- going WAFU B U17 Championship in Yamoussoukro, Cote d’ Ivoire, Head Coach Manu Garba says he is optimistic that the five- time world champions will post another favourable outing.
The Garba-tutored Eaglets were in terrific form in scoring four goals within 35 minutes into the game to rout the Baby Cheetahs of Benin Republic 4-1 on Wednesday, and the highly experienced gaffter has said that his team, just like every other team in the tournament, wants to win every match.
“Every team wants to win every match in a competitive tournament, and so does Nigeria. We want to try as much as possible to win every match in this competition and by winning every match, we will be champions of the WAFU-B again because that is where my team belongs,” Garba said during Friday’s press conference, ahead of the game on Saturday.
“We are here to play every match according to the laws of the game, but most importantly, we want to try as much as possible to win the match against Burkina Faso,” he added.
He praised the efforts of his young players against Benin Republic, noting that none of the players was in the last edition of the tournament in Ghana. “My boys did very well against the Benin Republic. I did say that, that was their first international game. Most of these boys have never entered an airplane before coming to Ghana here. This is a new team. None of these boys featured the last time we played in the WAFU B U17 Championship in Ghana.
“As the tournament progresses, they will get better. In our last game, against the Beninoise, my captain was elbowed in the chest, so I had to bring him out. He has fully recovered now. I’m very optimistic that this team will get better,” he concluded.
The game is slated for 4pm Nigeria time at the Stade Lycee Scientifique in Yamoussoukro.
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Five-time world champions, Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets, will launch their campaign for another continental crown when they square up against Benin Republic on Wednesday at the Stade du Lycee Scientifique in Yamoussoukro.
The encounter marks Nigeria’s opening game in the ongoing WAFU-B U17 Championship, which serves as the qualifying tournament for next year’s Africa U17 Cup of Nations. That continental showpiece will in turn determine Africa’s representatives at the 2026 FIFA U17 World Cup in Qatar.
The tournament kicked off at the weekend with Group A fixtures, where hosts Cote d’Ivoire overpowered Niger Republic 2-0, while Togo and Ghana settled for a 1-1 draw.
In Group B action on Sunday, Burkina Faso’s Baby Stallions struggled to a narrow 1-0 win over Benin Republic, who will now look to bounce back against Nigeria.
The Golden Eaglets, with a storied history in youth football, are widely tipped as favourites, but must navigate tricky tests against Benin and Burkina Faso in their three-team group.
Nigeria will hope to draw from their pedigree as the most successful nation in FIFA U17 World Cup history as they begin another journey in Yamoussoukro.
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