Flying Eagles Set to Storm Ghana for Inaugural WAFU B U-20 Nations Cup as Road to FIFA World Cup Begins

Nigeria’s U-20 national team, the Flying Eagles, will lock horns with West Africa’s finest as they gear up for the maiden edition of the WAFU B U-20 Cup of Nations, set to kick off in Accra, Ghana from July 10 to July 24, 2025, in a pivotal test ahead of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile.

Aliyu Zubairu’s Flying Eagles are returning to the pitch with a mission—to fine-tune their squad and tactics ahead of the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup. The WAFU B U-20 Cup of Nations, billed as a regional showdown of future stars, will provide the platform as Nigeria faces rivals like Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Niger, Togo, and Benin.

Originally scheduled for Prampram between June 15 and June 30, the tournament was postponed and relocated to Ghana’s capital, Accra, to allow for enhanced logistics and better playing conditions. The West African Football Union (WAFU) confirmed the changes last month after holding consultations with participating nations.

Nigeria’s last outing was at the 2025 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations in Egypt, where they clinched bronze after a hard-fought third-place finish. The team showed flashes of brilliance and resilience—traits they’ll need as they build toward global competition in Chile.

Ghana, the host nation, will be banking on home support as they welcome the sub-region’s rising talents. For Nigeria, it is not just about winning the tournament, but evaluating player chemistry, testing new strategies, and identifying the final squad list for the World Cup campaign.

Zubairu has maintained that the team will approach the WAFU tournament with full seriousness, describing it as a “golden opportunity” to simulate the intensity of World Cup fixtures. “We want to give our boys as much competitive match experience as possible,” he told journalists at a pre-departure press briefing.

WAFU B, under the auspices of CAF, introduced the U-20 tournament to raise regional competitiveness and create more opportunities for youth development across West Africa. This year’s edition is particularly symbolic, being the very first, and expectations are sky-high.

With kickoff just weeks away, the Flying Eagles are putting in final touches at their Abuja training camp, fine-tuning set pieces, building team cohesion, and mentally preparing for what could be a defining journey for Nigeria’s next generation of football stars.