Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets have been handed a tricky path in the 2025 WAFU B U-17 Championship after being drawn in Group B alongside Burkina Faso and Benin Republic, Footynaija.com reports.
The tournament, which serves as the qualifying event for the Africa U-17 Cup of Nations, will run from September 20 to October 3 in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire.
Thursday’s draw also placed hosts Côte d’Ivoire in Group A with Ghana, Niger Republic and Togo. Only the two finalists will advance to the continental finals next year, making every group-stage fixture critical.
Nigeria, record five-time FIFA U-17 World Cup winners, failed to reach the last edition of the U-17 AFCON and are under pressure to reassert their dominance.
Preparations have been thorough, with the Eaglets playing 12 friendlies—winning 10, drawing once and losing just once. Their latest result, a 3-0 win over Ejigbo City, suggests the team is hitting form at the right time.
The Golden Eaglets are being handled by veteran coach Manu Garba, 59, who led Nigeria to win the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup.