Nigeria’s Flying Eagles will begin the defence of their WAFU B U-20 Championship title against long-standing rivals Ghana in their Group B opener on Monday in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire.
The match is a repeat of the 2024 final in Lomé, Togo, where Nigeria defeated the Black Satellites 2-1 to retain the regional title they first won in 2022 in Niamey, Niger Republic.
The Flying Eagles will be aiming to extend their dominance over Ghana and take the first step towards winning a third consecutive WAFU B U-20 crown. However, the Black Satellites are expected to provide a stern challenge in one of the standout fixtures of the group stage.
Monday’s encounter will also mark the first competitive match for Nigeria’s new head coach, Abdul Maikaba, who previously served as an assistant with the Flying Eagles.
Maikaba said his side’s objective was to begin the tournament with a victory as they seek to retain the title.
“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,” he said.
The Flying Eagles head into the tournament in positive spirits after defeating Athletique Club de Zenuola 2-1 in a friendly on Thursday, their final warm-up fixture before the competition.
Nigeria, seven-time African U-20 champions, will look to draw on their pedigree and experience as they pursue another regional title.
The rivalry between Nigeria and Ghana dates back to 1951 and has produced several memorable contests across senior and youth football, adding further significance to Monday’s meeting.
Victory would give the defending champions an early advantage in the race for a place in the semi-finals from Group B, which also features Togo and Burkina Faso.
Following the Ghana clash, Nigeria will face Togo on 30 July at the Lycée Scientifique de Yamoussoukro, with kick-off scheduled for 2 pm local time (3 pm Nigerian time). The Flying Eagles will conclude their group-stage campaign against Burkina Faso on 2 August at the same venue, with kick-off also set for 2 pm local time (3 pm Nigerian time).
Hosts Côte d’Ivoire have been drawn in Group A alongside Benin Republic and Niger Republic.
With their title defence beginning against familiar opponents, the Flying Eagles will be looking to make an early statement by securing victory over Ghana and strengthening their bid for a third successive WAFU B U-20 Championship title.
