WAFU B U-20 Tourney: Flying Eagles Beat Niger In Second Friendly Game

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles on Monday beat Niger Republic 1-0 in a friendly game ahead of the West Africa Football Union (WAFU) B U-20 tourney.

The Flying Eagles win was confirmed by the NFF’s Communications department.

It is the second friendly between the Nigeria U-20 men’s team and their Niger Republic counterpart, hosts of the WAFU B U-20 tourney.

Their first meeting a few days back ended goalless.

The Flying Eagles are in Group B of the tournament which will serve as qualifiers for the 2023 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

The Ladan Bosso-led side will open their group campaign in the qualifiers on Sunday, 8 May against Ghana.

And three days later, the Flying Eagles will take on the Junior Stallions of Burkina Faso.

Hosts Niger Republic, Benin Republic, Togo and Cote d’Ivoire will battle in Group A.

Two teams will advance into the semi-finals from each group, with the two finalists qualifying to represent the WAFU B zone at the 2023 U-20 AFCON.

The 2023 U-20 AFCON is the qualifiers for the FIFA U-20 World Cup to be hosted in Indonesia also in 2023.

All four semi-finalists from the tournament in Egypt will qualify to represent Africa in Indonesia.

Crowned African giant

The Flying Eagles are the most successful team when it comes to the CAF U-20 AFCON after winning it seven times.

The last time they won the continental tournament was in 2015 when they beat hosts Senegal 1-0 in the final.

Six other occasions they were crowned champions was in 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989 and 2005.

Their last appearance at the U-20 AFCON was at the 2019 edition hosted by Niger Republic where they finished in fourth place.

At the FIFA U-20 World Cup, the Flying Eagles have finished as runners-up on two occasions – 1989 and 2005.

NP/Emmanuel Ukoh