Flying Eagles soar past Ghana in WAFU-B opener
Nigeria's Flying Eagles kicked off their quest for the 2026 WAFU B U-20 Championship title in style, defeating fierce rivals Ghana 4-2 in an entertaining Group B clash at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium in Côte d’Ivoire on Monday.
The seven-time African champions delivered an attacking masterclass under coach Abdu Maikaba, with Olayemi Ayinla, Lucky Oraro and Abdulmuiz Adeleke inspiring a commanding victory that sent Nigeria to the top of the group.
The Flying Eagles made their intentions clear from the opening whistle, taking the lead just six minutes into the contest through Ayinla. Nigeria continued to dictate the tempo, and their dominance was rewarded again in the 30th minute when Oraro calmly doubled the advantage.
Adeleke, who has been in impressive goalscoring form, added a third five minutes before the break to leave Ghana with a mountain to climb.
The Black Satellites mounted a spirited response in the second half, pulling two goals back to briefly threaten a comeback. However, Adeleke had the final say, netting his second goal deep into stoppage time to seal an emphatic 4-2 victory and ensure Nigeria claimed all three points.
The convincing win gives the Flying Eagles the perfect start to the regional tournament and strengthens their position as they chase a place in the knockout stage.
Nigeria will return to action on Wednesday, July 29, when they face Togo at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium in their second Group B fixture, with another victory capable of bringing them closer to qualification.
Despite the impressive triumph over their age-old rivals, head coach Abdu Maikaba urged his players to remain grounded, insisting the team's attention has already turned to the next challenge.
The Flying Eagles boss described Togo as another dangerous opponent and stressed that Nigeria would approach every match with the same discipline, determination and respect as they continue their pursuit of the WAFU B U-20 Championship crown
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