Nigeria’s Flying Eagles will be bidding for yet another regional title when they open their campaign against hosts Ghana in the 2025 West Africa Football Union U-20 Boys Cup tournament on Thursday (today).
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The team, led by head coach Aliyu Zubairu, are the reigning champions of the western regional football competition, having claimed the last two editions hosted in Niger Republic and Togo.
Leading the team will be inspirational captain Daniel Bameyi. Bameyi and 19 other players selected by coach Zubairu will use the competition as part of long-term preparations for the upcoming FIFA U-20 World Cup, which will be played in Chile later in the year.
Nigeria secured their place at the Mundial by finishing in the third position at the CAF U-20 AFCON, which took place in Egypt two months ago.
The experience garnered during the African U-20 tournament, could prove invaluable when the WAFU-B tourney begins.
After the opening fixture against Ghana, the Eagles will then face Benin Republic on Sunday, July 13, in their final fixture of Group A.
The Ivory Coast have been pitted against Burkina Faso, Niger Republic and Togo in Group B, with the Ivorians taking on the junior Stallions in the group’s first match.
The WAFU-B tournament will run from 10 July and conclude on July 23. It was originally scheduled to be an expanded competition involving teams from the WAFU A region. However, organizers reverted to the WAFU B-only arrangement.