Ouagadougou takes over the Under-15 zonal showpiece after Nigeria pulls out, giving West Africa's brightest young talents a new stage.
Burkina Faso has answered the call. Ouagadougou will now host the 2026 WAFU B African Schools Football Championship zonal phase, taking over the Under-15 tournament after Nigeria withdrew from staging it.
The Nigeria Football Federation had been due to host the competition from 6 to 9 December 2026, but ended its involvement in the project. That opened the door for the Burkinabè capital to welcome the young teams of the WAFU B sub-region to a event organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
A strong field is expected. Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire, Togo, Benin, Niger and the hosts will be in the mix, all chasing regional honours and a place on the road to the continental finals. Ghana will also enter both its boys' and girls' Under-15 sides, with the girls' team, the Black Damsels, arriving as silver medallists and looking to go one better.
The tournament matters far beyond the scoreline. The African Schools Football Championship exists to put emerging players in front of a wider audience while strengthening grassroots football across the continent, and it offers a real pathway for ambitious youngsters dreaming of reaching the top of the game. For Burkina Faso, stepping up at short notice is a strong statement about its commitment to developing the next generation.
