Report says Head coach of Nigeria’s male U-17 team (the Golden Eaglets), Manu Garba, has criticized the Confederation of African Football’s decision to restrict the number of teams qualifying for the U-17 AFCON from WAFU B to two. This comes after Nigeria was eliminated in the regional qualifying tournament.
Recall the Golden Eaglets lost 2-0 in the second semi-final of the WAFU B tournament on Tuesday in Ivory Coast, meaning they will miss out on the 2026 U-17 AFCON and, consequently, the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup, which is now held annually.
This setback follows their failure to reach the final of the previous edition in 2024, which cost them a spot at the 2025 U-17 AFCON and the expanded FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Garba, who led Nigeria to victory at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2013, believes it is unfair to limit the WAFU B zone—home to some of the strongest teams on the continent—to just two qualifying spots.
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