Wahala dey for Naija football fans as CAF don release di list of 16 teams wey go play for di 2026 Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations. Di tournament go hold for Morocco from April 25 reach May 15, 2026. Na big blow be dis because our Golden Eaglets no go dey dere again for di second time straight.
How di ting take happen? Na Ghana do us strong thing for WAFU Zone B qualifiers back for September 2025. Dem beat us 2-0 for semi-final, and dat one finish our hope to reach di continental finals. Na real sad gist for a country wey don win dis U-17 AFCON five times before.
CAF qualification system dey run through six zones for Africa: North (UNAF), West A (WAFU A), West B (WAFU B), Central (UNIFFAC), Central-East (CECAFA), and South (COSAFA). Each zone organise dia own mini-tournament with group stages and knockouts to pick who go qualify.
Di last team wey qualify na Algeria. Dem seal dia place with 1-0 win over Egypt for Martyrs of Benina Stadium. Now di full list of 16 countries don dey confirmed for CAF website since Sunday.
Dis U-17 AFCON no be just ordinary tournament. E dey serve as main qualifier for di 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup wey go hold for Qatar come November 2026. Di World Cup don expand to 48 teams now, and di top 10 teams from di AFCON finals go secure dia spots for di global championship.
Meanwhile, for anoda news wey dey sweet small, Nigeria Football Federation don begin plans to hold talks with Brentford FC defender Michael Kayode. Di 21-year-old player don impress for Premier League dis season, play 30 matches, score one goal with six yellow cards.
Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso overlook di former Italy U21 player for dia 2026 FIFA World Cup squad after dem lose to Bosnia and Herzegovina national team for final on March 31. Dis omission don open door for Nigeria to make move before high-profile friendlies against Portugal and Poland.
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle go meet with Michael Kayode before international break for June. NFF officials dey keen to facilitate one-on-one meeting with di player wey don represent Italy at U18, U19 and U21 levels before.
Kayode score winning goal for Italy for 2023 UEFA U19 European Championship final and don maintain steady rise since den. With William Troost-Ekong near retirement and Semi Ajayi dey struggle with injuries, Nigeria fit look to integrate am into squad.
Nigerian sports journalist Joel Ajayi talk say inclusion of Michael Kayode go strengthen Super Eagles squad. Him note say foreign-born players don play crucial role for national team over past decade, and Kayode experience with Italy youth teams go be valuable asset.
For anoda development, Eric Chelle don show interest for Arsenal star Ethan Nwaneri to represent Nigeria at international level. Di former Mali coach dey optimistic about di former England U-17 player possibly joining di three-time AFCON champions, since di attacking midfielder still eligible to play for Super Eagles despite representing Three Lions as junior.
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