Flying Eagles land in Ghana, set sights on WAFU B hat-trick
Nigeria’s U20 men’s national team, the Flying Eagles, have touched down in Accra and kicked off preparations for the 2025 WAFU B U20 Boys Tournament, as they aim to extend their dominance in the West African region and clinch a third straight title.
Originally slated to include sides from the broader 9-nation WAFU A zone, the tournament has reverted to a WAFU B-only format, with all matches to be held in Ghana’s capital between July 10 and 23.
Head Coach Aliyu Zubairu has assembled a 20-man squad headlined by captain Daniel Bameyi and several key returnees from the team that finished third at the Africa U20 Cup of Nations in Egypt, securing qualification for the upcoming FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile.
The Flying Eagles are drawn in Group A alongside hosts Ghana and Benin Republic. They’ll open their campaign in a heated West African derby against Ghana on Thursday, July 10 at 3pm, at the Prampram Centre in Accra.
They face Benin Republic in their second and final group match on Sunday, July 13.
Group B will see Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Niger Republic, and Togo battle for semifinal slots, with the Ivorians and Burkinabes locking horns in the group’s opener.
Nigeria has won the last two editions of the tournament—in Niger (2021) and Togo (2023)—and enters this edition as defending champions. With talent both experienced and emerging, the Flying Eagles are favorites to soar once again, even as regional rivals look to halt their supremacy.
