Côte d'Ivoire and Niger meet this Friday, October 23, 2026, for the final of the UFOA-B qualifying tournament for the 2027 Africa U17 Cup of Nations. At the 4-Août Stadium in Ouagadougou, both teams are aiming for victory, with clear ambitions expressed by their coaching staff as they approach this decisive clash.
Defending champions after their victory in Yamoussoukro in 2025, the Ivorian Elephants are looking to retain their crown. In a pre-match press conference, coach Serge Bougouyou and goalkeeper Tah Behonao expressed their desire to finish the tournament on a high note. Already qualified for the 2027 Africa U17 Cup of Nations, Côte d'Ivoire wants to reaffirm its status as the reigning champion.
On the other side, Niger's U17 Mena approaches this final with the same ambitions. The Nigeriens secured their qualification for the Cup after defeating Burkina Faso in the semi-finals on October 20. Coach Issa Mai Dikouma praised his players' commitment and firmly believes in their chances of lifting the trophy. "I want to congratulate these young players who believed in themselves and brought joy to the Nigerien people. The final will be competitive, and our group has the qualities needed to achieve this goal," he stated.
The Nigerien coach also mentioned challenges related to the availability of his squad. Several players aged 15 make up his team, while five of them have left the selection to participate in the U15 World Cup. Despite these absences, he remains confident in his players' ability to rise to the occasion in this ultimate match.
Nigerien midfielder Abdoul Fataou Habibou also shares the ambition to leave a mark in his country's history. "We want to become an integral part of the history of Nigerien football again after our qualification for the Cup. That’s why we will give everything to win this trophy on Friday," he declared.
This final will also have a taste of revenge following the 1-1 draw between the two teams during the group stage. This time, a winner must emerge to lift the UFOA-B trophy.
The kick-off is scheduled for 16:00 at the 4-Août Stadium in Ouagadougou. With Ivorians determined to retain their title and Nigeriens looking to end their journey with a victory, the final promises to be an intense showdown.
