WAFU U-20 Boys Cup: Nigeria coach Aliyu Zubairu wary of Ghana’s threat ahead of opener

Head coach of Nigeria’s U20 team, Aliyu Zubairu has expressed readiness against Ghana ahead of the 2025 WAFU Zone B U20 Championship opener.

The Flying Eagles will face the Black Satellites in the tournament’s opening match on Thursday, July 10 at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram.

Speaking at the official pre-match press conference, Zubairu revealed that the team had to swiftly reorganize following an initial focus on preparations for the FIFA U20 World Cup.

“We’re ready, but it’s really not the competition we are here for,” he said. “We reconvened just a week ago because it was not the time for us to regroup and prepare for the World Cup, but we had to quickly reorganise because of this tournament. However, we are ready.

“We know the history between Ghana and Nigeria, and it has always been like that at whatever level,” Zubairu stated. “Even if it’s community football between Nigeria and Ghana anywhere, it’s always attractive because of the clean rivalry.

The Flying Eagles are the defending champions, having won the last edition of the WAFU U20 Championship in Togo, where they beat Ghana in the final. Thursday’s Group A match will mark the beginning of another chapter in this age-old football rivalry.