Nigeria's U-17 national team, nicknamed the Golden Eaglets, are gearing up to defend their West African Football Union (WAFU) B U-17 Championship title.
The tournament kicks off on Wednesday 15 May 2024 in Accra, Ghana, with the Eaglets arriving in the Ghanaian capital on Saturday, 11 May 11th. They'll arrive four days before their first game against Burkina Faso, whom they defeated in last edition's final.
This year's competition holds significant weight for the young Nigerian squad.
The Eaglets, who hold the prestigious title of five-time world champions, having dominated the 2022 edition in Kumasi, will seek to defend the regional title. with the aim of qualifying for the U-17 AFCON.
Despite winning the regional qualifying tournament, their performance at the subsequent U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Algeria fell short, as they failed to qualify for the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Indonesia.
Determined to reclaim their continental dominance and potentially reach a historic sixth world title, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has reinstated the 2013 FIFA World Cup-winning coach, Manu Garba to lead the team.
Coach Garba will be tasked with steering the Eaglets through Group B, which consists of Burkina Faso, Niger Republic, and Togo.
The ultimate goal for the team is to secure qualification for next year's U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, a crucial stepping stone on the path to the global stage.
The pressure doesn't stop there. The technical crew faces the dual challenge of defending the regional crown and nurturing the squad's talent for a successful showing at both the U-17 AFCON and, hopefully, the next FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Via a release from the NFF, the Eaglets' title defense commences on Thursday 16 May, with a face-off against Burkina Faso at the University Stadium.
Kickoff is set for 15:00 Ghana time (16:00 Nigeria time).
Subsequent matches will see them take on Niger Republic on Sunday 19 May (18:00 Ghana time, 19:00 Nigeria time) at the University Stadium, and Togo on Wednesday 22 May (16:00 Ghana time, 17:00 Nigeria time) at the Accra Sports Stadium.
This year's WAFU B tournament features seven teams: Benin, host nation Ghana, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Niger, Togo, and Nigeria.
However, only one team from the zone will have the privilege of progressing to the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, which acts as the qualifier for the prestigious FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Nigeria U-17s on the world stage
Nigeria have won four world U-17 titles, with the first in 1985 at the inaugural tournament in China.
The Golden Eaglets also won the tournament in 1993, 2007, 2013 and the 2015 set in Chile that has produced the likes of African footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen and AC Milan’s Samuel Chukwueze.
The Golden Eaglets, with their impressive track record and the guidance of a seasoned coach who has won the U-17 World Cup, are definitely a team to watch in this year's WAFU B tournament.
Their journey to reclaim regional glory and potentially secure a spot at the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations promises to be an exciting and closely contested affair as always is with youth competitions.
Manu, after weeks of training in Abuja, has selected a 19-man squad to prosecute the tournament with the aim of defending their title.
Nigeria squad for the WAFU B tournament in Ghana
Adekunle Sunday Adedigba, Sylvester Chizoba Chika, Daniel Ofonime Mendie, Destiny Samuel, Abdulwaris Yunus, Boluwatife David Ekishola, Ibrahim Damilare Abdulganiyu, Edward Oloche Ochigbo, Rapha Adams, Simon Karshe Cletus, Oreoluwa Olawale Agbenla, Okorie Marvelous Chibuike, Abdulmuiz Adeleke, John Ogwuche, Qurib Adetola, Chinedu Levi Dominic, Abdulmuiz Oluwatimilehin Oladimeji, Daniel Vowero Arierhi, Imrana Muhammad
