WAFU Zone B U-20 Boys Cup: Rivals Ghana and Nigeria open the tournament

The WAFU Zone B U-20 Boys Cup opens on July 10, 2025, at the Prampram Center of Excellence in Ghana. The regional competition brings together seven countries: Host country Ghana, Nigeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, and Niger.

From the outset, hostilities will begin with a reunion. The opening match pits Ghana against Nigeria in a match that already has the feel of a final. A duel that is a repeat, as the two teams met in the 2024 final, won by Nigeria’s Flying Eagles (2-1) against the Black Satellites.

Young Nigerian striker Godday Otalyul-Imbus believes his team is capable of repeating the feat:

“We always win, it’s a derby. We’ll go there with all our might to win. We’ll take each match as it comes. We’ll approach each match like a final. God willing, we’ll see how far we can go. The last U20 team won a bronze medal at the African Cup of Nations. We’re new, this is our chance to write our names in the history books,” he said.

The opening match is tonight at 3 p.m. GMT at the Prampram Center of Excellence.

July 10, 2025: Group A

• Ghana vs. Nigeria: 3:00 PM

July 11, 2025: Group B

• Côte d’Ivoire vs. Burkina Faso: 3:00 PM
• Niger vs. Togo: 6:00 PM

July 13, 2025: Group A

• Nigeria vs. Benin: 3:00 PM

July 14, 2025: Group B

• Niger vs. Côte d’Ivoire: 3:00 PM
• Burkina Faso vs. Togo: 6:00 PM

July 16, 2025: Group A

• Benin vs. Ghana: 3:00 PM

July 17, 2025: Group B

• Burkina Faso vs. Niger: 3:00 PM
• Togo vs. Côte d’Ivoire: 3:00 PM

EDITOR NOTE: This article is translated from the original written in French by Hilary Christelle Tolo Kpadonou for Pan-Africa Football.