Nigeria’s U-17 head coach, Eboboritse Uwejamomere, has appealed for forgiveness from Nigerians following the Golden Eaglets’ failure to qualify for the 2027 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Uwejamomere admitted that the disappointing outcome had left both the coaching crew and players frustrated, acknowledging that the team had failed to meet the expectations of Nigerian football fans.

Speaking to Brila FM, the coach expressed his unhappiness over the team’s exit and the consequences of missing next year’s continental tournament.

“The first impression is unhappiness. We are out of the tournament and the bigger picture is that we won't go to the U-17 AFCON next year. Very unhappy and disappointed overall,” he said.

Despite the setback, Uwejamomere urged Nigerians to view the experience as part of the development of the young players, noting that the boys still have time to learn and rebuild their careers.

“For my players, young boys of 15, 16 years old still have years ahead of them. This is like the first chapter of their career. It is just to learn from this and use this as an experience going forward in their career,” he added.

The coach also acknowledged the anger and disappointment among supporters, saying he understood their expectations and shared their pain over the team’s failure.

“For the fans back home, it is a bitter feeling. Some of them probably hate me right now. This is normal because they are fans, proud Nigerians. They want and expect us to win every tournament, which is normal.

“The only thing I can say is for them to forgive us. The disappointment they feel, I am also feeling it. My players are also feeling the same disappointment,” Uwejamomere said.

The Golden Eaglets’ failure to qualify for the U-17 AFCON means Nigeria will also miss the opportunity to compete for a place at the FIFA U-17 World Cup through the continental tournament.