Nigeria’s U-20 national team, the Flying Eagles, has arrived in Côte d’Ivoire ahead of the 2026 WAFU B U-20 Championship, where they will begin the defence of their regional title.
The seven-time African champions landed in Abidjan on Monday before proceeding by road to the tournament host city of Yamoussoukro, where they are lodged at the Trio Corridor Hotel.
Coach Aliyu Zubairu’s side will kick off their title defence against long-time rivals Ghana’s Black Satellites on Monday at the Lycée Scientifique Stadium in what promises to be one of the competition’s headline fixtures.
The encounter rekindles the rivalry between both nations after Nigeria defeated Ghana 2-1 in the final of the 2024 edition in Lomé to claim the WAFU B championship.
Following the opening clash, the Flying Eagles will face Togo’s Sparrow Hawks on Thursday before concluding their Group B campaign against Burkina Faso’s Young Stallions on August 2.
Nigeria heads into the tournament as defending champions and one of the favourites, with the team aiming to retain the regional title while continuing preparations for upcoming continental competitions.
The WAFU B U-20 Championship is expected to provide Coach Zubairu with another opportunity to assess his squad as the Flying Eagles continue their development ahead of future international assignments.