Flying Eagles Begin WAFU U20 Preparations with Friendly Victory in Abuja

Flying Eagles Begin WAFU U20 Preparations with Friendly Victory in Abuja

By Niyi Busari 

Nigeria’s U20 men’s national team, the Flying Eagles, secured a 2–1 win over Capital City FC in their first warm-up match ahead of the 2025 WAFU U20 Championship in Ghana.

The friendly encounter, held in Abuja, offered Head Coach Aliyu Zubairu an opportunity to assess his squad as preparations intensify for the regional tournament. Despite dominating large portions of the match, the Flying Eagles were only able to convert two of their numerous scoring chances.

Coach Zubairu is expected to finalize his 23-man squad in the coming days before the team departs for Ghana. Nigeria has been drawn into Group A alongside host nation Ghana and Benin Republic.

The Flying Eagles will open their campaign against Ghana on July 10, followed by their final group match against Benin Republic on July 13. Group B consists of Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Niger Republic, and Togo.

According to the coach of Nigeria, the WAFU U20 Championship serves as a preparation for the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile.

Nigeria is the only country in the West Africa that qualify for the world cup. Others are South Africa, Egypt, and Morocco.