Flying Eagles Aim to Extend Regional Reign in WAFU B U20 Tourney

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

📍 Location: Accra, Ghana
🗓 Tournament Dates: 10th – 23rd July, 2024
🧑‍✈️ Head Coach: Aliyu Zubairu

Nigeria’s Ambition

The Flying Eagles, winners of the last two WAFU B U20 Championships, are seeking to continue their regional dominance as the tournament returns to a WAFU B-only format, hosted in Accra.

Squad Highlights

Returning Stars:

Daniel Bameyi (Captain), Ebenezer Harcourt, Odinaka Okoro, Ezekiel Kpangu, Divine Oliseh, Tahir Maigana

Core players from the AFCON U20 bronze-winning squad, also World Cup-bound later this year.

New Additions:

Promising inclusions like Clinton Andy (GK), Marvelous Freedom (DF), and Qudus Olayiwola (FW) reflect Nigeria’s depth.

Group A Fixtures (Three-Team Group):

10th July: Nigeria 🇳🇬 vs Ghana 🇬🇭 at 3 PM (Opening Match)

13th July: Nigeria 🇳🇬 vs Benin 🇧🇯

Group B Teams: Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Niger, Togo

Tactical Insight:

With a mix of proven talents and emerging prospects, Nigeria is expected to play a possession-based, high-pressing style, typical of their youth setups. Leadership from captain Bameyi and creativity from midfielders like Oliseh and Kpangu will be key.

Nigeria’s WAFU B U20 Record:

Back-to-back champions (2022 – Niger, 2023 – Togo)

Favorites once again due to pedigree and squad continuity.

Oluwaseun Oyediji

Oluwaseun Babatunde Oyediji is a multi-media sports journalist with over 10 years experience in Information Communication Technology (ICT), women's football, and beach soccer reportage.The prolific writer is the Media Assistant to Nigeria Beach Soccer League and Africa Beach Soccer Union as well as contributor on Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) website.He has covered multiple national and international football tournaments including Championship of African Nations (CHAN 2020), CAF Women's Champions League (2023), and Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2023).Since 2021, Oyediji has covered the NWFL Premiership especially the season ending Super Six Playoffs.A member of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Ogun state chapter is also the image maker of the Remo Sports Development Council under the leadership of Chief Falilat Ogunkoya and David Osuolale.

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