WAFU B U17: Garba Manu Calls For More Slots For WAFU B Region

WAFU B U17: Garba Manu Calls For More Slots For WAFU B Region Sampson Adedeji Following Nigeria’s elimination from the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Golden Eaglets head coach Garba Manu has urged the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to increase the number of qualification slots allocated to the WAFU B region, BSNSports.com.ng reports. The Golden Eaglets fell 2-0 to Ghana in the semi-final of the WAFU B tournament in the Ivory Coast on Tuesday, a defeat that ruled them out of the 2026 U-17 AFCON and, consequently, the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup, which is now an annual event. This marks a second consecutive setback for Nigeria at this level, after missing the 2025 U-17 AFCON due to failure to reach the final of the 2024 edition. Garba, who famously guided Nigeria to the FIFA U-17 World Cup crown in 2013, believes CAF’s decision to restrict the region to just two qualifying slots is unfair, given its strength in youth football. “When the WAFU B competition started in the Niger Republic, we had seven countries, and only one qualified,” Garba recalled after the loss to Ghana. “I was the one who raised the observation that WAFU B is the strongest zone in Africa. That’s why they increased it to two slots. But I still insist it’s not enough. Nigeria is still rated number one at the U-17 level globally, so how can CAF limit us to two?” He further expressed disappointment that CAF allocated an extra slot to WAFU A in a previous edition, instead of strengthening WAFU B. “It’s very unfair. In youth football, WAFU B is the strongest in Africa. We should get at least three slots. I know what it means to win at this level. I was part of the 2007 triumph, and I won again in 2013. CAF must review this and give WAFU B three slots, which will benefit African football as a whole.” Nigeria remains the most successful nation in U-17 World Cup history, with five titles (1985, 1993, 2007, 2013, 2015). However, their last appearance was in 2019, where they exited in the round of 16 after losing to the Netherlands.