Flying Eagles arrive in Abuja awaiting CAF qualification ruling
Nigeria's U-20 team returned to Abuja on Tuesday following their WAFU B final defeat, pending a decision from CAF on their tournament status.
The Nigeria U-20 Flying Eagles arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja on Tuesday. The squad returned to the country following their participation in the WAFU B Championship held in Côte d’Ivoire.
Nigeria finished the regional tournament as runners-up after losing 1-4 to Burkina Faso in the final match. This result prevented the team from securing a third WAFU B title and has left their path to the 2027 Africa U-20 Cup uncertain.
The qualification process for the continental tournament has become complicated due to the hosting arrangements for the 2027 edition. Ghana is set to host the tournament, which grants them automatic qualification for the competition.
Because Ghana holds an automatic spot, one of the available WAFU B slots is effectively occupied. This situation means that the standard qualification route for the region has been altered, leaving the Flying Eagles' future in the competition dependent on external factors.
The team is currently waiting for a formal decision from the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Nigeria is seeking an extra slot from the governing body to ensure they can join Burkina Faso in the 2027 Africa U-20 Cup.
Until CAF provides a ruling on the allocation of slots, the status of the Nigerian side remains unresolved. The players and officials are awaiting clarity on whether the runners-up will be permitted to participate in the upcoming continental showpiece.
Source: The Sun Nigeria · Sports