Udeze Reacts to Golden Eaglets' Shock Loss to Niger
The Golden Eaglets, representing Nigeria, suffered a surprising 2-1 defeat to Niger Republic in their opening Group B match at the 2026 WAFU B U-17 Championship held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Former Nigeria international Ifeanyi Udeze expressed his disbelief at the loss, questioning how Nigeria could lose to Niger despite the country's wealth of football talent.
Niger took the lead in the 20th minute with a goal from Abdoul Razaq Zada and extended their advantage in the 86th minute through Abdoul Rakilou, who capitalized on a defensive error. The Golden Eaglets managed to score late in the match with a goal from Mubarak Fasiu in stoppage time, but they could not equalize.
Niger's victory secured them four points from two matches, ensuring their place in the semi-finals after a prior draw with Côte d’Ivoire. Nigeria now faces a must-win situation against Côte d’Ivoire in their final group match to maintain their hopes of advancing to the semi-finals and qualifying for the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.
Plus234Feed summary based on reporting from Naijanews. Read the original report below.
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