Golden Eaglets fall 2-1 to Niger Republic in WAFU B U-17 Championship opener

Golden Eaglets fell 2-1 to Niger Republic in their opening match of the 2026 WAFU B U-17 Championship in Ouagadougou on Wednesday night, October 13. Niger took the lead in the 19th minute through Abdoul Razaq Zada and extended it to 2-0 eight minutes from full time when Abdoul Rakilou scored. Nigeria pulled one back deep into stoppage time via Mubarak Fasiu, but could not find an equalizer.

Former Super Eagles defender Ifeanyi Udeze expressed disbelief, saying he still can’t process the loss to a team like Niger Republic and questioned how a nation with abundant talent could fall short. He spoke on BRILA FM, lamenting that the squad’s potential was not reflected on the pitch.

The result leaves the Golden Eaglets needing a win against Côte d’Ivoire in their final group match to have any chance of reaching the semifinals. With their tournament hopes now hanging on a single game, fans and analysts are asking whether the defeat exposes gaps in youth development, coaching, or preparation.

Will the Golden Eaglets bounce back against Côte d’Ivoire, or does this loss signal deeper issues in Nigeria's youth football setup?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/10/15/wafu-b-u-17-championship-udeze-laments-golden-eaglets-loss-to-niger/