Nigeria’s Flying Eagles now know the challenge ahead as they begin their journey towards the 2027 U20 Africa Cup of Nations, Footynaija reports.
Wednesday’s draw for the 2026 WAFU B U20 Championship placed Nigeria in a difficult Group B alongside Ghana, Burkina Faso and Togo.
The WAFU B Championship is the qualifying competition for the 2027 U20 AFCON, which will be hosted by Ghana. Only the strongest teams will book places at the continental tournament, where the top four nations will also qualify for the FIFA U20 World Cup.
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles, boosted by former Leicester City forward, were seeded in Group B after finishing as runners-up to hosts Côte d’Ivoire at the last edition. Côte d’Ivoire, the defending champions, headline Group A with Niger and Benin Republic.
One of the biggest matches in the group stage will be Nigeria against Ghana. The two countries have built a fierce rivalry at youth level, with the Flying Eagles beating the Black Satellites in both the 2022 group stage and the 2024 WAFU B final.
Nigeria also enter the tournament with an impressive record. The Flying Eagles won the competition in 2022 and successfully defended their title in 2024. They also reached the finals in 2018 and 2025, losing to Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire respectively.
Head coach Abdul Maikaba will now prepare his squad for another demanding campaign. With Ghana, Burkina Faso and Togo standing in their way, the Flying Eagles will hope to continue their strong record in the competition and secure another place at the U20 AFCON.












