Flying Eagles will begin the defence of their WAFU B U-20 Championship crown with a blockbuster clash against long-time rivals Ghana on Monday in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast.
The opening fixture rekindles one of African football’s fiercest youth rivalries, with both sides meeting again after Nigeria edged the Black Satellites 2-1 in the 2024 final. That victory secured a successful defence of the title the Flying Eagles first claimed in 2022.
The encounter will also usher in a new era for the seven-time African champions, with Abdu Maikaba taking charge of his first competitive match as head coach. The former Flying Eagles assistant is eager to begin his tenure on a positive note and keep Nigeria’s title defence firmly on course.
“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 game.
Kick-off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. local time (3:00 p.m. Nigerian time) at the Lycée Scientifique de Yamoussoukro.
The Flying Eagles head into the tournament in confident mood after recording a 2-1 win over Athlétique Club de Zenuola in a preparatory friendly last Thursday, a result that provided a timely boost before the competition.
Nigeria and Ghana have shared an intense football rivalry for more than seven decades, producing memorable contests at senior, youth and women’s levels. Another chapter will be written on Monday as both sides battle for an early advantage in Group B.
A victory would hand Nigeria a strong platform in the race for a semi-final place before taking on Togo on July 30 and Burkina Faso on August 2. Both matches will be played at the same venue and are set to kick off at 2:00 p.m. local time (3:00 p.m. Nigerian time).
Elsewhere in the competition, hosts Ivory Coast will compete in Group A alongside Benin Republic and Niger Republic as they seek a place in the knockout rounds.
