WAFU B U-17 Tourney: Golden Eaglets To Face Benin Republic, Burkina Faso

WAFU B U-17 Tourney: Golden Eaglets To Face Benin Republic, Burkina Faso

Sampson Adedeji 

Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets have discovered their opponents for the forthcoming WAFU B U-17 Championship, as the five-time world champions were placed in Group B alongside Benin Republic and Burkina Faso, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The regional cadet competition is scheduled to kick off on September 20 in Cote d’Ivoire, with all participating teams battling not only for the trophy but also for qualification tickets to the 2025 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations.

Group A, on the other hand, houses the host nation Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana’s Black Starlets, and Niger Republic.

The Golden Eaglets, coached by Manu Garba, will begin their campaign against Burkina Faso before facing the Benin Republic in what promises to be a highly competitive group. Garba and his technical crew have been fine-tuning preparations in Abuja, with a pool of young talents eager to stake their claim for spots in the final squad.

Nigeria remains the most successful nation in U-17 football globally, having lifted the FIFA U-17 World Cup five times. However, their immediate focus will be on navigating the WAFU B qualifiers, which serve as a pathway to the continental stage.

The top two teams from each group will progress to the semi-finals, and only the finalists will book tickets to the 2025 AFCON U-17, which in turn serves as the qualifying tournament for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

With Ghana, Burkina Faso, and Benin all boasting strong youth setups in recent years, the Golden Eaglets will need to be at their very best if they are to reassert their dominance in the region.