Defending champions Nigeria will begin the defence of their WAFU B U-20 Championship title with a high-profile clash against arch-rivals Ghana on Monday in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire.
Key Highlights
- Nigeria’s Flying Eagles will begin their WAFU B U-20 Championship title defence against arch-rivals Ghana on Monday in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire.
- The clash is a repeat of the 2024 final, where Nigeria defeated Ghana 2-1 in Lomé, Togo.
- Newly appointed coach Abdu Maikaba will make his competitive debut in charge of the seven-time African champions.
- Maikaba said Nigeria is targeting an outright victory as the team seeks to retain the regional title.
- The Flying Eagles boosted their preparations with a 2-1 friendly win over Athletique Club de Zenuola.
The Group B encounter is a repeat of the 2024 final in Lomé, Togo, where the Flying Eagles defeated the Black Satellites 2-1 to successfully retain the regional title after first winning it in Niamey in 2022.
Monday’s fixture also marks the competitive debut of newly appointed Flying Eagles head coach Abdu Maikaba, who takes charge of the seven-time African champions with a clear objective of extending Nigeria’s dominance in the competition.
Speaking ahead of the encounter, Maikaba expressed confidence in his squad’s readiness and insisted the team is determined to begin its title defence with maximum points.
“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,” the coach said.
The Flying Eagles received a morale boost before the tournament after defeating Athletique Club de Zenuola 2-1 in a friendly match last Thursday, a result that highlighted the team’s preparedness for the regional championship.
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Nigeria and Ghana share one of Africa’s fiercest football rivalries, with memorable battles spanning several decades across different age grades and both men’s and women’s competitions.
Another chapter will be written when the two sides meet at the Lycée Scientifique de Yamoussoukro, with kick-off scheduled for 3 p.m. Nigeria time.
A victory over Ghana would significantly strengthen Nigeria’s chances of reaching the semi-finals before facing Togo on July 30 and Burkina Faso on August 2 to conclude their Group B campaign.
Group A of the tournament features hosts Côte d’Ivoire alongside Benin Republic and Niger Republic.
The Flying Eagles are aiming to secure a third consecutive WAFU B U-20 Championship crown and continue their impressive record in the regional competition.
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