There is renewed hope for Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets following the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) decision to expand the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). This adjustment increases the number of participating teams from 12 to 16, creating more opportunities for countries to compete.

With this expansion, Nigeria’s U-17 team has a chance to qualify for the 2025 U-17 AFCON, despite their earlier setback. The Golden Eaglets finished third in the WAFU B qualifiers held in Ghana last year, which had previously ruled them out of the tournament. However, the new format may allow them to secure a spot in the upcoming competition.

Meanwhile, the 2025 U-17 AFCON, set to take place in Morocco from March 30 to April 19, will serve as the qualification tournament for the U-17 FIFA World Cup. Teams that perform well will earn a place in the global event, scheduled to be held in Qatar in November 2025.