Burkina Faso face Niger in U17 AFCON qualifying semi-final after Nigeria shock

Burkina Faso will face Niger in the semi-finals of the WAFU B 2027 U17 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying tournament next Tuesday after the latter eliminated Nigeria with a 2-1 victory.

The result has set up a meeting between Mamadou Zongo’s side, popularly known as Bebeto, and a Niger team that has emerged as one of the tournament’s surprise packages.

Burkina Faso must overcome Niger to secure a place at the continental tournament, with the semi-finals determining which teams advance to the final phase of the U17 Africa Cup of Nations.

The other semi-final will feature Ghana against Côte d’Ivoire, setting up another high-stakes encounter between two of West Africa’s youth football powers.

Niger stun Nigeria to reach semi-finals

Niger booked their place in the last four after defeating Nigeria 2-1 on Tuesday at the Stade du 4-Août, delivering a significant blow to the West African giants’ qualification ambitions.

The U17 Mena took control of the contest early, with Abdoul Razak Zada opening the scoring in the 19th minute after a dominant start.

Nigeria struggled to contain their opponents during the opening period but returned after the break with greater attacking intent, enjoying more possession as they searched for an equaliser.

However, their efforts failed to produce the required breakthrough, and Niger capitalised late in the game to strengthen their grip on the contest.

Substitute Sofiane Cidiko doubled Niger’s advantage in the 87th minute after receiving a ball in behind the Nigerian defence before finishing to put his side within touching distance of qualification.

Nigeria managed to pull one back in the 95th minute when Mubarak Fasiou struck a powerful effort beneath the crossbar.

The late goal offered a brief lifeline, but Niger held on as the final whistle followed moments later, confirming their place in the semi-finals.

Burkina Faso face decisive test

The victory over Nigeria represents another major milestone for Niger, who had earlier drawn 1-1 with Côte d’Ivoire in their opening Group B encounter.

Their ability to eliminate Nigeria has strengthened their credentials ahead of Tuesday’s meeting with Burkina Faso, who will be determined to avoid the same fate.

For Zongo, the challenge is to guide his team past an opponent arriving with renewed confidence after its impressive victory over one of the tournament’s most established nations.

Burkina Faso’s qualification hopes now hinge on their performance in the semi-final, where victory would guarantee them a place at the 2027 U17 Africa Cup of Nations.

Niger, meanwhile, will look to build on their momentum and move one step closer to reaching the continental showpiece.

Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire battle for qualification

The other semi-final will see Ghana take on Côte d’Ivoire in a contest that also carries significant implications for qualification.

Both sides will be aiming to secure one of the available places at the U17 Africa Cup of Nations, making their meeting a crucial test of their ambitions.

With Nigeria already eliminated, the remaining contenders have an opportunity to strengthen their positions in the regional competition and secure passage to the continental stage.

The semi-final winners will advance to the final, while their victories will also confirm their qualification for the 2027 U17 Africa Cup of Nations.

With places at stake, Burkina Faso, Niger, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire must now deliver when it matters most as the WAFU B tournament approaches its decisive stage.