The Golden Eaglets were unable to defend the title they won two years ago after going down to the Ivorians for the second time in the regional tournament.
Nigeria who are five-times world champions fought from 0-3 down to score twice, but it was a little too late for a comeback on the night.
The impressive Ivorians finished the tournament unbeaten by winning all their four matches, while Nigeria on the other hand won just one in four matches.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Eaglets had started the competition poorly, losing their first match 0-1 to the same Ivorians, and then drew 1-1 with Ghana.
Nigeria squeezed through to the semi-finals on account of goals difference, before pipping Burkina Faso 1-0 to qualify for the final.
Both finalists, Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire, have also qualified for the 2021 CAF U-17 AFCON slated for Morocco later in the year. (NAN)
Mikel backs Eagles to win AFCON
Why Mbappe had £1.3m ethics bonus in PSG contract
Nigeria begins their AFCON campaign with a hard-fought victory over Tanzania
Man City in advanced talks with Bournemouth's Semenyo
Eagles not one man team — Osimhen
Nigerian stars battle for 11th Elicris Table Tennis Cup
Troost-Ekong receives national honour certificate from Tinubu
Pillars return to Kano after banishment
Beating Nigeria would feel like winning AFCON – Tanzania coach
Peter Odili orders 50% slash in PAMO Teaching Hospital in PH as over 800 receive free medicals to give back to society
Davido headlines AFCON opening ceremony
Numbers behind Nigeria’s fourth AFCON title pursuit
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,425 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (54,686 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,608 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,264 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,217 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,132 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (51,976 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,552 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,711 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,248 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,644 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,116 views)