Nigeria Golden Eaglets hopeful for World Cup chance as U-17 AFCON expansion looms

Nigeria's Golden Eaglets could benefit from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) decision to expand the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Soccernet.ng reports.

CAF is expected to announce the increase in participating teams to 24 during a virtual meeting of the Executive Committee on Friday, June 21, 2024.

This expansion is in line with FIFA's decision to increase the World Cup teams to 48, allowing Africa to have 10 representatives at the global event.

Currently, the U-17 AFCON has 12 teams, with qualification based on zones. Each zone, including WAFU Zone B where Nigeria competes, sends two teams.

With the expected expansion, each zone will send four teams. This is good news for Nigeria, who finished third in this year's WAFU Zone B championship.

Burkina Faso won the tournament in Accra, beating Ivory Coast in the final. Nigeria secured third place by defeating Ghana 2-1.

Previously, only the top two teams from each zone would qualify. If CAF confirms the expansion, the top four teams from each zone, including Nigeria, will qualify for next year’s U-17 AFCON in Algeria. This gives Nigeria a chance to compete for a spot in the World Cup in Qatar.

Nigeria boast a strong record in U-17 football, having won the FIFA U-17 World Cup five times and finishing as runners-up three times. They are also two-time U-17 AFCON champions, last winning in 2007.

The Golden Eaglets won the first FIFA U-17 World Cup in 1985 and added titles in 1993, 2007, 2013, and 2015. They also won the African U-17 Championship in 2001 and 2007 and were runners-up in 1995 and 2013.