AFCON 2025
Defending champions Nigeria have arrived in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, ahead of the 2026 West Africa Football Union (WAFU) B U-20 Championship as they prepare to defend their regional crown and chase qualification for the 2027 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations.
The Flying Eagles delegation departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Monday before continuing their journey to Yamoussoukro, the host city for this year’s tournament.
Led by head coach Abdu Maikaba, Nigeria will kick off their campaign with a highly anticipated Group B showdown against arch-rivals Ghana’s Black Satellites on July 27 at the Lycée Scientifique de Yamoussoukro.
The seven-time African champions will then face Togo’s Junior Sparrow Hawks on July 30 before concluding the group stage against Burkina Faso’s Young Stallions on August 2, with all three matches scheduled to take place at the same venue.
Beyond the regional title, the competition also serves as the qualifying tournament for the 2027 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations, with the participating teams battling for places at the continental championship, which will be hosted by Ghana.
Nigeria head into the tournament with an impressive pedigree at youth level. The Flying Eagles are the most successful team in the history of the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations, having won a record seven titles in 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 2005, 2011 and 2015.
They also hold the distinction of being Africa’s most frequent representatives at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, qualifying for the tournament a record 14 times and finishing as runners-up on two occasions, in 1989 and 2005.
