Former Super Eagles forward Mutiu Adepoju has expressed shock and disappointment over Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2027 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), saying it is unheard of for the Golden Eaglets to miss the continental tournament, Completesports.com reports.

The competition is scheduled to take place in Morocco between April and May 2027. Nigeria’s failure to qualify also means the Golden Eaglets will miss the 2027 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.

Adepoju, 55, described the development as particularly painful, considering Nigeria’s rich history in youth football. The Golden Eaglets have won the U-17 AFCON twice, in 2001 and 2007, and have lifted the FIFA U-17 World Cup a record five times, in 1985, 1993, 2007, 2013 and 2015.

Golden Eaglets’ 2027 U-17 AFCON Absence Shocks Adepoju

“It’s shocking. It’s hard to believe that the Golden Eaglets were unable to qualify for the 2027 U-17 AFCON,” said Adepoju, who was fondly known as ‘Headmaster’ during his playing days.

“Not playing in the U-17 AFCON also translates to missing the bigger stage, the U-17 World Cup in Qatar next year.

“What went wrong? I don’t know. I’m not with the team, but no matter how you look at it, it pains me to see Nigeria out of the youth tournament.

“The U-17, U-20 and even the U-23 tournaments are competitions Nigeria has dominated over the decades. Losing our grip at this stage means we are not doing what we are supposed to do. We have remained stagnant, paving the way for other countries to overtake us.

“How do you explain a situation where ten teams are supposed to represent the African continent and Nigeria won’t be one of them?”

Golden Eaglets’ WAFU-B Exit Ends World Cup Hopes

Adepoju’s lamentation follows the Golden Eaglets’ elimination in the group stage of the WAFU-B U-17 Championship in Burkina Faso.

Nigeria lost their opening Group B match 2-1 to Niger Republic before playing out a 1-1 draw against Côte d’Ivoire in their final group fixture. The results ended the Golden Eaglets’ hopes of qualifying for the 2027 CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations and, consequently, the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.

The failure to qualify is another setback for Nigerian football, given the country’s historical dominance at youth level and the opportunities these competitions provide for developing young talents.

“We’re still lamenting the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals we missed. Then came the U-20 AFCON, and the FIFA World Cup finals slipped through our fingers. Now, the U-17 AFCON and World Cup opportunities have also vanished. It’s too painful,” lamented Adepoju, a former Racing de Santander forward in Spain and former general manager of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), Ibadan.

Qatar To Host 2027 FIFA U-17 World Cup

No fewer than 48 teams will compete at the 2027 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar. The Asian nation is scheduled to host the tournament for three consecutive editions: 2025, 2027 and 2029.

Nigeria also failed to qualify for the 2025 edition in Qatar, making the Golden Eaglets’ latest setback another missed opportunity for the country’s young footballers to compete on the global stage.