Nigeria’s hopes of featuring at the next CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations have received a boost after WAFU B formally appealed to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to consider granting the country an additional qualification slot, NigeriaSoccernet.com reports.
The regional football body has written to CAF requesting special consideration for the Flying Eagles following their campaign at the recently concluded WAFU B U-20 Championship in Côte d’Ivoire.
The appeal reportedly followed an agreement reached by the four semi-finalists, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Niger Republic, before the knockout matches.
WAFU B is understood to have referenced the precedent from the 2025 U-20 AFCON in Egypt, when Tunisia were granted a place in the tournament following changes to the hosting arrangements.
Tunisia had initially finished third in the UNAF qualifiers behind Egypt and Morocco. However, after Côte d’Ivoire withdrew as the original host and Egypt assumed hosting responsibilities, Tunisia were subsequently included in the competition.
That decision resulted in 13 teams participating in the 2025 tournament.
WAFU B is now asking CAF to consider a similar arrangement for Nigeria ahead of the next edition, which will be hosted by Ghana.
The regional body wants CAF to award WAFU B an additional qualification slot, which would enable Nigeria to join the other representatives from the zone and increase the region's total number of participants to three.
CAF is expected to study the request before making a final decision on whether Nigeria will be granted a place in the continental championship.
For the Flying Eagles, a favourable response would provide a major lifeline following their WAFU B campaign and preserve their opportunity to compete for continental honours at U-20 level.