Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets have suffered a 2-1 defeat to Niger Republic in their opening match at the 2026 WAFU B Under-17 Championship in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The match, played on Tuesday night at the Stade du 4 Août, saw the Nigerian youngsters struggle with defensive errors and a lack of organisation, handing Niger all three points in their Group B encounter. Head coach Eboboritse Uwejamomere had expressed confidence in his team ahead of the match, but the Eaglets failed to deliver the expected performance. Niger took the lead in the 20th minute following a costly error by Nigerian goalkeeper Mutiu Adedayo, who failed to handle an effort properly, allowing the ball to cross the goal line. The defeat has put pressure on Nigeria’s campaign, with the team needing improved performances in their remaining group matches to strengthen their chances of progressing in the competition. The Eaglets’ preparations had also reportedly been disrupted by a scheduling mix-up, forcing the team to train on a substandard pitch ahead of the tournament.