Nigeria’s Flying Eagles Drawn Against Ghana in Group B
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles will renew their rivalry with Ghana after both sides were drawn together in Group B of the 2026 WAFU B U20 Championship.
The draw, held on July 15, also placed Aliyu Zubairu’s side alongside Burkina Faso and Togo in the qualifying tournament for the 2027 Africa U20 Cup of Nations.
Hosts and defending champions Côte d’Ivoire lead Group A, where they will face Niger and the Benin Republic.
The upcoming group‑stage clash between Nigeria and Ghana is anticipated to be one of the tournament’s highlight fixtures, given the history of competitive encounters between the two youth football powerhouses.
The WAFU B Championship serves as the qualifying pathway to the 2027 U20 Africa Cup of Nations, which Ghana will host. The continental event will feature twelve teams, with the four semi‑finalists earning slots at the FIFA U20 World Cup.
Nigeria arrives with an impressive pedigree. The Flying Eagles were runners‑up in the inaugural 2018 edition, captured their first title in 2022, and defended it successfully in 2024.
In the 2022 tournament held in Niamey, Nigeria defeated Ghana 2‑0 in the group stage, overcame Côte d’Ivoire in the semifinals, and beat the Benin Republic 3‑1 in the final to claim the crown.
Two years later, in Lomé, the Flying Eagles retained the trophy with a 2‑1 victory over Ghana, thanks to a first‑half brace by Kparobo Arierhi.
At the most recent edition, Nigeria came close to a third consecutive triumph but fell 1‑0 to hosts Côte d’Ivoire after conceding a stoppage‑time winner in the final.
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