Golden Eaglets head coach Eboboritse Uwejamomere has tendered a public apology to Nigerians following the team’s early exit from the 2026 WAFU B U-17 Championship in Burkina Faso.
Nigeria’s campaign came to an end in the group stage after a 1–1 draw against Côte d’Ivoire in Ouagadougou on Saturday, following an opening 2–1 loss to Niger Republic.
Finishing bottom of Group B with one point, the result eliminated the five-time world champions from contention. The early exit means Nigeria will miss both the 2027 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco and the 2027 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.
Reflecting on the performance, Uwejamomere expressed deep regret over the failure to qualify for the continental showpiece.
“Obviously, the first impressions are unhappiness, disappointment. Now we are out of the tournament and the bigger picture is that we won’t go to the U-17 AFCON next year; we are unhappy and very disappointed overall,”Uwejamomere said.
He urged supporters to view the setback as a learning experience for the young squad members as they transition into professional careers.
“For my players, obviously young boys, 15 or 16 years old, they still have years ahead of them. This is the first chapter of their career going into elite football, so it’s just to learn from this and use it as an experience going forward,” he added.
Addressing fans across the country, the head coach acknowledged the frustration caused by the team’s elimination.
“For the fans back home, it’s a bitter feeling. A lot of them probably hate us right now, but this is normal because they are proud Nigerians who expect us to win every game and every tournament,” Uwejamomere stated.
“The only thing I can say to them is to forgive us, because the disappointment they feel, I am also feeling, and my players are feeling the same.”