Niger stun Nigeria 2-1 in opening UFOA-B U17 2026 qualifier

Niger made a winning start to their UFOA-B U17 2026 qualifying campaign with a 2-1 victory over Nigeria in Ouagadougou on Wednesday.

Abdoul Razaq Zada put Niger ahead in the 19th minute, giving his side the advantage against the Golden Eaglets, one of the most successful teams in youth football.

Nigeria pushed for an equaliser but were unable to break through. Niger then appeared to secure the points when Abdoul Rakilou doubled their lead in the 86th minute.

Mubarak Fasiu pulled a goal back for Nigeria in the fifth minute of stoppage time, at 90+5, but the late effort was not enough to prevent defeat.

The result adds to concerns surrounding Nigeria’s youth football system. The country have won the U17 World Cup five times but have not appeared at the tournament since 2019.

The latest setback highlights the challenges facing talent development, scouting and the supervision of young players in Nigeria. The Golden Eaglets must now respond to keep their hopes of progressing in the competition alive.