The Nigeria U-17 team, the Golden Eaglets, began their title defense in the WAFU B U17 Championship with a disappointing 0-0 draw against Burkina Faso at the University of Ghana Stadium on Thursday.

Despite dominating possession, Coach Manu Garba’s team struggled to convert their opportunities. A heavy downpour further complicated the match, turning the field into a muddy mess during the second half.

The first half was tense, with both teams creating opportunities but failing to score. This pattern continued after the break, with the Eaglets even hitting the crossbar in stoppage time. Players like Abdulmuiz Oladimeji, Raphael Adams, and captain Simon Cletus had promising chances but couldn’t make the breakthrough.

The result is surprising given the Eaglets’ pedigree. The five-time world champions had a dominant run to glory in another Ghanaian city, Kumasi, two years ago. However, they faltered at the Africa U17 Cup of Nations in Algeria, missing out on qualification for the World Cup in Indonesia.

The Eaglets will need to improve their finishing to retain their WAFU B title. Their next challenge comes on Sunday, 19 May, against the Niger Republic at the University Stadium (6 p.m. Ghana time, 7 p.m. Nigeria time). Their final group stage match will be against Togo on Wednesday, 22 May, at the Accra Sports Stadium (4 p.m. Ghana time, 5 p.m. Nigeria time).

While this opening draw is a setback, there are reasons for optimism. The Nigerian team displayed promise in their pre-tournament preparation, winning six, drawing two, and losing just one of their nine friendly matches. They need to rediscover that form and sharpen their finishing to progress in the competition.