Flying Eagles Set for Ghana Showdown in WAFU B U20 Championship
Nigeria's Flying Eagles have been drawn in Group B alongside Ghana, Burkina Faso and Togo for the 2026 WAFU B U20 Championship, the qualifying tournament for the 2027 Africa U20 Cup of Nations.
The draw, conducted on Wednesday, also placed hosts and defending champions Côte d'Ivoire in Group A with Niger and Benin Republic. The group stage will see Nigeria renew its long-standing rivalry with Ghana's Black Satellites in what is expected to be one of the tournament's standout fixtures. Burkina Faso and Togo complete Group B as the four teams battle for qualification to the 2027 U20 AFCON, which will be hosted by Ghana. The continental championship will feature 12 teams, with the four semi-finalists earning places at the FIFA U20 World Cup. Nigeria enters the competition with an impressive record in the WAFU B tournament. The Flying Eagles reached the final of the inaugural edition in 2018 before winning back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2024. At the 2022 tournament in Niamey, the Flying Eagles defeated Ghana 2-0 in the group stage before overcoming Côte d'Ivoire in the semi-finals and Benin Republic 3-1 in the final to lift the trophy.
They successfully defended the title in 2024 after defeating Ghana 2-1 in the final in Lomé, with Kparobo Arierhi scoring both goals for Nigeria. However, Nigeria narrowly missed out on a third consecutive title at the most recent edition, losing 1-0 to hosts Côte d'Ivoire after conceding a stoppage-time goal in the final. The Flying Eagles will now intensify preparations as they aim to reclaim the regional title and secure qualification for the 2027 Africa U20 Cup of Nations.
#UTVAfrica#
