By Oluwadamilola Olaleye
Nigeria’s U-20 men’s national team, have resumed training in Abuja in preparation for the 2024 WAFU B U-20 Championship in Ghana, with head coach Aliyu Zubairu focused on strengthening the team’s attack.
Zubairu, who recently took over the reins of the Flying Eagles, said the technical crew is actively scouting for attacking reinforcements to bolster the squad before the tournament, which runs from July 10 to 23 in Cape Coast.
“We are taking proactive measures to ensure that the challenges we encountered previously are addressed squarely,” said Zubairu.
“My assistants and I are fully aware of the issues related to the team’s attacking prowess and are making concerted efforts to rectify the situation.”
The former El-Kanemi Warriors coach emphasized that the regional tournament would serve as both a platform for player assessment and a crucial step in the team’s preparations for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, scheduled to take place in Chile.
The Flying Eagles have been drawn in Group A alongside hosts Ghana and Benin Republic. They will open their campaign against Ghana on July 10, followed by a second group match against Benin Republic on July 13.
Nigeria is aiming for a strong showing at the WAFU tournament as part of their broader objectives on the road to the global stage.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
