By Dorcas Francis Koji
Defending champions Nigeria will begin their quest for a third consecutive WAFU B U-20 Championship title with a blockbuster clash against long-time rivals Ghana on Monday in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire.
The highly anticipated Group B encounter is a repeat of the 2024 final, where the Flying Eagles defeated the Black Satellites 2-1 at the Stade de Kégué in Lomé, Togo, to successfully retain the regional crown.
Nigeria first lifted the trophy in 2022 under the guidance of Isa Ladan Bosso before Aliyu Zubairu led the team to another triumph two years later.
This year’s campaign ushers in a new era for the Flying Eagles, with Abdu Maikaba taking charge of the team for his first competitive match as head coach.
The former Flying Eagles assistant coach has made his intentions clear, insisting his side is determined to begin the tournament 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,” Maikaba said ahead of the encounter.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 2:00 p.m. local time (3:00 p.m. Nigerian time) at the Lycée Scientifique Stadium in Yamoussoukro.
Nigeria heads into the competition in high spirits after recording a 2-1 victory over Athlétique Club de Zenuola in a pre-tournament friendly, a result that boosted the team’s confidence ahead of the championship.
The rivalry between Nigeria and Ghana remains one of the fiercest in African football, stretching back to 1951 and producing memorable battles across senior, youth and women’s competitions.
A victory over the Black Satellites would hand the Flying Eagles a significant advantage in Group B as they continue their pursuit of another regional title.
Following Monday’s showdown, Nigeria will take on Togo on July 30 before concluding their group-stage campaign against Burkina Faso on August 2. Both matches will also be played at the Lycée Scientifique Stadium and are scheduled to kick off at 2:00 p.m. local time (3:00 p.m. Nigerian time).
Meanwhile, tournament hosts Côte d’Ivoire headline Group A, where they will battle Benin Republic and Niger Republic for a place in the knockout stage.
With a blend of fresh talent and championship pedigree, the Flying Eagles will be aiming to make another strong statement as they seek to extend Nigeria’s dominance in the WAFU B U-20 Championship.
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