Nigeria’s under-17 national football team, the Golden Eaglets, suffered a heartbreaking defeat against Cote d’Ivoire, losing 0-1 in the semi-final match of the 2023 WAFU B U17 Championship.

The defeat not only ends their quest for the championship title but also dashes their hopes of defending their previous title.

The lone goal of the match came in the second half courtesy of Youbah Coulibaly, securing victory for Cote d’Ivoire and securing them a spot in the final.

Coulibaly’s stellar performance earned him the coveted Most Valuable Player (MVP) title of the game.

The loss carries further repercussions for Nigeria as they could miss out on participation in both the AFCON U17 and FIFA U17 World Cup this year.

Amidst the disappointment, there remains a glimmer of hope as unconfirmed reports suggest the possibility of three teams qualifying from the WAFU Zone B for the U17 AFCON.

However, the Golden Eaglets must first focus on the upcoming third-place playoff against Ghana.