Flying Eagles begin WAFU-B U-20 campaign with Ghana rivalry
Nigeria's Flying Eagles will launch the defence of their WAFU B U-20 Championship title on Monday when they face old rivals Ghana in a blockbuster Group B opener in Yamoussoukro, Côte d'Ivoire.
The fixture is a repeat of the 2024 final in Lomé, Togo, where Nigeria edged the Black Satellites 2-1 to successfully retain the title they first won in Niamey in 2022. Isa Ladan Bosso guided the Flying Eagles to their maiden WAFU B crown, while Aliyu Zubairu masterminded last year's successful title defence.
A new era now begins under head coach Abdu Maikaba, who takes charge of the Flying Eagles in a competitive match for the first time. The former assistant coach has made his intentions clear—Nigeria is in Côte d'Ivoire for one mission only: to retain the trophy.
"We are going for an outright victory against Ghana because our objective is to retain the trophy, and we have to start winning our matches from Day One," Maikaba said ahead of Monday's encounter.
The highly anticipated clash will be played at the Lycée Scientifique de Yamoussoukro, kicking off at 2:00 p.m. local time (3:00 p.m. Nigeria time).
Nigeria head into the contest on the back of a confidence-boosting 2-1 victory over Athletique Club de Zenuola in a friendly match last Thursday, a result that capped off their final preparations for the tournament.
Monday's encounter adds another chapter to one of African football's fiercest rivalries. Since their first meeting in 1951, Nigeria and Ghana have produced unforgettable battles across different age grades and both the men's and women's game.
A winning start would hand the defending champions a significant advantage in the race for a semi-final place in Group B, where Togo and Burkina Faso also await.
The Flying Eagles will return to the same venue on 30 July to face Togo's Sparrow Hawks before concluding their group campaign against Burkina Faso's Young Stallions on 2 August, with both matches scheduled for 2:00 p.m. local time (3:00 p.m. Nigeria time).
In Group A, hosts Côte d'Ivoire are joined by Benin Republic and Niger Republic as the battle for places in the knockout stage gets underway.
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