Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Niger Republic in their opening match of the 2026 WAFU B U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
The Nigerian youngsters conceded two goals before scoring a late consolation through Mubarak Fasiu, as Niger secured all three points to begin their qualifying campaign on a winning note.
Niger took the lead in the 19th minute when Abdoul Razaq Zada found the back of the net to put his team ahead.
The goal gave Niger an early advantage and left the Golden Eaglets with the task of fighting their way back into the contest.
Nigeria pushed for an equaliser but struggled to turn their efforts into goals as the match progressed.
With the encounter approaching its final stages, Niger strengthened their advantage through Abdoul Rakilou, who scored in the 86th minute to make it 2-0.
The late goal appeared to put the contest beyond Nigeria, leaving the Golden Eaglets with little time to mount a comeback.
However, Mubarak Fasiu gave the Nigerian side a glimmer of hope when he scored in the 90+5th minute, reducing the deficit to 2-1.
Despite the late breakthrough, the Golden Eaglets could not find another goal before the final whistle, as Niger held on to claim victory.
The defeat represents an early setback for Nigeria in the 2026 WAFU B U-17 AFCON qualifiers, with the team now needing a positive response in their next outing.
Niger, meanwhile, will take confidence from their victory, having demonstrated their ability to capitalise on scoring opportunities and protect their advantage in the closing stages.
