By Dayo Awoniyi
The inaugural WAFU A&B U-20 Boys Cup of Nations, originally set to take place in Ghana from June 15 to 30, 2025, has been officially postponed, casting uncertainty over Nigeria’s U-20 team’s preparations for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA), hosts of the regional tournament, communicated the postponement to participating nations, citing the need to “ensure the best possible conditions for a successful event.”
A new date is expected to be announced in due course.
“We regret to announce that the WAFU A&B U-20 Boys Cup of Nations has been postponed. A new date for the tournament will be announced in due course,” the GFA said in a statement.
Flying Eagles head coach Aliyu Zubairu had identified the WAFU tournament as a key part of Nigeria’s buildup to the global event. The squad has been in training camp in Abuja for the past week as part of early preparations.
The postponement disrupts the team’s schedule, potentially affecting tactical and match-readiness plans.
The tournament was expected to feature 16 national teams from WAFU Zones A and B, offering competitive match experience ahead of the World Cup.
The WAFU organizing committee is expected to provide revised timelines and logistical updates in the coming days.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career 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.
