Ghana coach Konadu targets Nigeria upset in WAFU B U-20 opener

Maxwell Konadu says the prospect of facing old rivals Nigeria in their opening match has given Ghana’s Black Satellites “extra motivation” going into the 2026 WAFU B U-20 qualifiers.

Ghana begin their campaign against the Flying Eagles at Lycee Scientifique Stadium, where the sides will renew one of West African football’s most intense rivalries in the Under-20 age group.

The tie is a repeat of the previous WAFU B U-20 final in Lome, Togo, where Nigeria came from behind to beat Ghana 2-1, and Konadu made clear that defeat remains a driving force for his squad.

“We’re motivated because it’s Nigeria, and they will also be motivated because they are playing Ghana,” the Black Satellites head coach said at his pre-match press conference. “Matches between these two nationswe all know what they mean. I think the best team will carry the day.”

Revenge and regional pride at stake

Konadu, speaking on Sunday via the Ghana Football Association’s channels, described the fixture as more than a routine group game, with national pride and recent history adding extra weight to the contest.

The coach admitted his players are fully aware they are facing the defending champions and underlined their determination to end Nigeria’s reign in the regional competition.

“We know Nigeria are the defending champions and we have to work even harder to dethrone them,” he said.

Ghana, three-time FIFA U-20 World Cup winners at this level, are keen to reassert themselves in the West African sub-region after watching Nigeria lift the last WAFU B title at their expense.

Konadu confident in Ghana’s preparation

Despite the scale of the challenge, Konadu expressed confidence in his team’s build-up to the tournament, insisting the Black Satellites have done everything possible to be ready for their opening assignment.

“I think we’ve prepared enough. The boys are ready,” he explained. “We played a couple of friendly games before coming here and I think the boys are ready for the impending assignment ahead of us.”

The friendly matches, he suggested, have allowed Ghana to fine-tune both personnel and approach, with the coaching staff using those games to assess combinations and fitness levels ahead of the clash with Nigeria.

Tactical discipline key against “aggressive” Nigeria

Konadu also outlined how Ghana plan to cope with what he described as a traditionally forceful Nigerian style, stressing that his side will need to remain composed and organised if they are to prevail.

“Nigeria has always been aggressive, which we’re aware of. Let’s see how our boys respond to that,” he said. “Maybe we have to circulate the ball a bit. We’ll try to think before they act, and I think that will be one of the key areas we have to exploit.”

His comments suggest Ghana will look to counter Nigeria’s physicality with quick passing and intelligent movement, aiming to control possession and limit the Flying Eagles’ ability to impose themselves in one-on-one duels.

Konadu believes that maintaining tactical discipline and making quicker decisions on the ball could prove decisive in a match he expects to be intense from the opening whistle.

With both teams eager to start strongly in the 2026 WAFU B U-20 qualifiers and with the memory of that 2-1 defeat in Lome still fresh, the Black Satellites coach is under no illusions about the scale of the task – but insists his players are ready to try to turn the tables on their fiercest regional rivals.