Former Super Eagles forward Mutiu Adepoju says it is shocking that Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets will miss the 2027 U-17 AFCON, which also ends their hopes of reaching the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.
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Former Super Eagles forward Mutiu Adepoju has said he is shocked and disappointed that the Golden Eaglets failed to qualify for the 2027 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations. The tournament takes place in Morocco in April and May 2027.
Missing out also means Nigeria will miss the 2027 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar. Adepoju said it is unheard of for the Golden Eaglets to miss the continental tournament, calling the situation particularly painful given the country’s rich history in youth football. Fans of Nigerian youth football can read Bet9ja promotion code step by step.
The Golden Eaglets have won the U-17 AFCON twice, in 2001 and 2007, and have lifted the FIFA U-17 World Cup a record five times, in 1985, 1993, 2007, 2013 and 2015.
“It’s shocking,” said Adepoju, who was known as “Headmaster” during his playing days. He said he does not know what went wrong because he is not with the team, but that no matter how you look at it, it hurts to see Nigeria out.
Adepoju argued that Nigeria has dominated the U-17, U-20 and even U-23 levels for decades, and that losing that grip suggests the country has stayed stagnant while others overtook it. He also asked how ten African teams can represent the continent at the World Cup without Nigeria being one of them.
The failure follows the Golden Eaglets’ elimination at the WAFU B U-17 Championship in Burkina Faso. Nigeria lost 2-1 to Niger in their opener, then drew 1-1 with Côte d’Ivoire, and finished bottom of the three-team group on one point. Readers new to betting can see Bet9ja bonus code in plain English.
Under the WAFU B format, only the two finalists qualify for the U-17 AFCON. Niger topped the group with four points, and Côte d’Ivoire went through in second place.
Adepoju also said Nigerian football is still lamenting missing the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals. He added that the U-20 AFCON and World Cup chances slipped through the country’s fingers too, and now the U-17 route has vanished as well.
Qatar will host the 48-team 2027 FIFA U-17 World Cup, and the country is scheduled to host three straight editions, in 2025, 2027 and 2029. Nigeria also missed the 2025 edition in Qatar.
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📌 Did You Know?
- Morocco last hosted the U-17 AFCON in 2013, when Kelechi Iheanacho scored four goals and Nigeria lost the final to Ivory Coast on penalties.
- Nigeria also missed the 2025 U-17 AFCON, the first time they had been absent since 2017.
- Morocco won the 2025 U-17 AFCON for the first time, beating Mali 4-2 on penalties in the final.
- Abiodun John equalised for Nigeria in the 1-1 draw with Côte d’Ivoire, while Mubarak Fasiou scored in the 2-1 defeat to Niger.
- The WAFU B semi-finals on October 20 were Ghana v Côte d’Ivoire and Niger v Burkina Faso, at the 4 August Stadium in Ouagadougou.
- Adepoju, 55, is a former Racing Santander forward and was general manager of Shooting Stars Sports Club in Ibadan.
