Nigeria Awaits WAFU B U-20 Draw As Flying Eagles Depart For Cote D'ivoire July 20

Nigeria Awaits WAFU B U-20 Draw As Flying Eagles Depart For Cote D'ivoire July 20

By Niyi Busari 

Nigeria's U-20 national team, the Flying Eagles, will depart for Côte d'Ivoire on July 20 to continue preparations for the 2026 WAFU B U-20 Championship ahead of the tournament's kick-off on July 26, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

A team official confirmed the travel plans to BSN Sports, saying the squad would complete the final phase of its preparations in Abidjan before the regional competition begins.

"We are leaving Nigeria for Côte d'Ivoire on July 20 to continue our preparations for the WAFU B U-20 Tournament, which also serves as the qualifying competition for the CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations," the official said.

Seven countries will compete in this year's tournament: hosts Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin Republic and Niger Republic. The West African Football Union (WAFU) Zone B is expected to conduct the tournament draw in the days leading up to the competition.

The 2026 WAFU B U-20 Championship will be held in Abidjan from July 26 to August 9 and will determine the region's representatives at the 2027 CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Flying Eagles, who finished runners-up in the previous edition, have been in camp in Abuja under the guidance of head coach Abdu Maikaba as they intensify preparations for the tournament.

Nigeria won its maiden WAFU B U-20 title in 2024 after defeating Ghana 2-1 in the final, a victory that also secured qualification for the CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.

The WAFU B U-20 Championship, established in 2018, has become the qualifying pathway for the continental tournament. In the 2025 edition, the Flying Eagles reached the final but fell 1-0 to hosts Côte d'Ivoire, finishing as runners-up.