Nigeria’s U-20 men’s team, the Flying Eagles, will on Tuesday depart the country for the 2024 WAFU B U20 Championship in Lome, Togo.
The team’s media officer, Sharif Abdallah told The PUNCH on Saturday that 20 of the 27 players in camp will make the trip, adding that no pre-tournament tests have been arranged for the team before commencing defence of the title they won in Niger Republic two years ago on 18 October in Group B, which also houses Burkina Faso and Cote d’Ivoire.
After a three-week selection process in Abuja, the Flying Eagles moved to Ikenne, Ogun State, for a one-week final camping programme at the high-grade Remo Sports Institute.
The 2023 FIFA World Cup quarter-finalists have played two friendly matches since arriving in Ikenne, both ending in victories, trouncing Seamoriow FC 4-1 in the first match and edging Grass Runners Academy 2-1 in the second.
Hosts Togo will battle Ghana, Benin Republic, and Niger Republic in Group A of the competition that is scheduled for 17 to 31 October.
The championship serves as the qualifying tournament for next year’s Africa U20 Cup of Nations, from where the top-placed four teams will qualify to fly Africa’s flag at next year’s FIFA U20 World Cup finals in Chile.
