Nigeria’s U20 men’s team, the Flying Eagles, have been drawn into Group A at the upcoming WAFU-B U20 Boys’ Cup, set to take place in Accra, Ghana, from 10 to 23 July 2024.
The draw, conducted in Accra on Friday, placed Nigeria in Group A alongside hosts Ghana and a resurgent Benin Republic—three of the region’s most competitive sides in youth football.
The group promises fireworks, with the historic rivalry between Nigeria and Ghana taking centre stage, their group stage meeting is already being billed as one of the tournament’s biggest fixtures.
Group A is expected to be tightly contested, with all three sides boasting strong pedigrees at this level. The Flying Eagles, seven-time African champions, will need to be at their best to progress to the semi-finals.
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Benin Republic, who has made notable strides in youth development, is also expected to challenge strongly, looking to upset the West African hierarchy.
In Group B, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Niger, and Togo will battle for the two semi-final spots.
The group is seen as more balanced, though Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire enter as early favourites.
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The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals of the tournament.
The inaugural edition of the WAFU A and B U20 Championship was designed to foster regional youth football development and serve as a key preparatory platform for Nigeria ahead of the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile.
