Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets were edged out 2-0 by Ghana in the semi-finals of the WAFU Zone B U17 Championship, meaning the Black Starlets will represent their zone at the 2026 U-17 AFCON in Morocco.
The goals came in the first half. Michael Awuli put Ghana ahead in the 26th minute, and Robinho Yao capitalised on a loose ball to double the lead some minutes later.
Nigeria pushed in the second half, but could not break through Ghana’s defence. The loss also ends Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for the U17 World Cup, as continental qualification often hinges on getting through AFCON for that age group.
Editorial
We feel this defeat is a sharp reminder of how fragile youth campaigns can be. The margin was small, but in youth football, that is often enough. For the Golden Eaglets, the task now is not to dwell on what was lost, but to prepare for the match for third place and to rebuild.
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Ghana’s early goals exposed lapses in concentration and defending under pressure. In knockout football, those lapses are punished. Nigeria created chances thereafter, but lacked the clinical finish and composure in decisive moments. That is often what separates teams that qualify from those who don’t.
What is worrying is not just this match, but what it signals for Nigeria’s youth development. Missing the chance to compete at AFCON and World Cup means lost exposure, lost learning, and lost momentum. Our youth must be better prepared tactically, mentally, and physically to handle the weight of big matches.
Still, there is potential and resolve to salvage pride. The players who remain—those who learn from this, show resilience, and get better can still carry forward lessons. This loss hurts, but how the team responds may define their trajectory more than this game itself.
Did You Know?
- The match was a WAFU Zone B U17 semi-final, and victory for Ghana also secured their qualification into the U17 AFCON tournament.
- Michael Awuli scored Ghana’s opening goal in the 26th minute.
- Robinho Yao netted Ghana’s second goal after capitalising on a loose ball in the box.
- Nigeria now fail to qualify for the U17 AFCON and U17 World Cup for the second consecutive time.
- The defeat marks a setback for Nigeria’s dominance in youth tournaments Ghana had not appeared in U17 AFCON since 2017, but now return by defeating their traditional rivals.
