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Nigeria-born Manchester City U-17 Head Coach, Chuks Akuneto, has urged the Flying Eagles to keep their focus firmly on securing a place at the 2027 CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations despite their 2-0 defeat to Burkina Faso, insisting that qualification for the WAFU B U-20 Championship semi-finals keeps Nigeria on course to achieve its primary objective, Completesports.com reports.
Flying Eagles Reach Semi-finals Despite Group-Stage Setback
Akuneto said the team’s qualification for the knockout stage was the priority, playing down Coach Abdul Maikaba’s side’s 2-0 defeat to Burkina Faso in their final Group A match at the Lycée Scientifique de Yamoussoukro Stadium, Côte d’Ivoire.
“It’s not a good result losing to Burkina Faso,” Akuneto began when he spoke to Completesports.com on Monday afternoon.
“But the important thing is that they have qualified for the next round despite the defeat to Burkina Faso.
“What matters most is securing the U-20 AFCON ticket, from where they will fight for a place at the FIFA U-20 World Cup.”
The Flying Eagles will clash with the host nation, Cote d’Ivoire, in the first semi-final match on Wednesday, 5 August 2026 at Stade Charles Konan Banny in Yamoussoukro while Burkina Faso will face Niger Republic in the second semi-final game later the same day.
Akuneto Says U-20 AFCON Qualification Remains The Real Objective
Nigeria’s U-20 national team, the Flying Eagles, have won the CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations a record seven times. Abdul Maikaba’s side will now be chasing qualification for the tournament as they seek an unprecedented eighth continental title.
The 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup will be jointly hosted, for the first time, by Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.
Ghana Set To Host 2027 U-20 AFCON
Ghana is scheduled to host the 2027 CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations as part of activities marking the West African nation’s 70th Independence Anniversary.
