Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets will face Cote d’Ivoire and Niger in Group B at the 2026 WAFU B U-17 Championship, with a place in the semi-finals at stake for the leading teams.
The draw places Nigeria in a three-team section, meaning every group fixture will carry significant importance as the sides compete to finish in the top two. Those two teams will progress to the semi-finals of the regional tournament.
The competition will be hosted by Burkina Faso from 10 to 23 October 2026. The hosts have been placed in Group A alongside Ghana, Benin Republic and Togo.
The 2026 tournament will also act as the WAFU Zone B qualifying competition for the 2027 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations. The participating nations will therefore be competing not only for success in Burkina Faso, but also for the qualification places available to represent the zone at the continental finals.
The Golden Eaglets are intensifying their preparations in Abuja ahead of the championship. Their work in the Nigerian capital will now be focused on producing a squad capable of negotiating a group that includes Cote d’Ivoire and Niger before attempting to reach the knockout stage.
Nigeria will need to finish among the leading two teams in Group B to continue their campaign beyond the group phase. The semi-finals will provide the next opportunity for the sides to pursue qualification for the 2027 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations through the WAFU Zone B route.
Burkina Faso’s Group A opponents are Ghana, Benin Republic and Togo, with the host nation beginning the tournament in a section containing four teams. Group B, by contrast, consists of Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire and Niger.
The tournament’s schedule runs over 14 days, beginning on 10 October and concluding on 23 October. During that period, the teams will compete for the regional honours and the qualification opportunities linked to the competition.
For Nigeria, the immediate task is to complete preparations in Abuja and then make a strong start in Group B. The Golden Eaglets must secure a position in the top two if they are to reach the semi-finals and remain in contention for a place at the 2027 continental finals.
The WAFU B U-17 Championship will therefore serve as an important stage for the participating nations, with the group matches deciding which teams remain in the qualification contest. Nigeria’s draw has set up meetings with Cote d’Ivoire and Niger, while Burkina Faso, Ghana, Benin Republic and Togo will compete in the other group.