Flying Eagles Duo Earn Team of the Tournament Honours at WAFU B

Flying Eagles Duo Earn Team of the Tournament Honours at WAFU B

By Admin 

Flying Eagles defenders Daniel Bamayi and Ahmed Akinyele have been named in the WAFU B U-20 Championship Team of the Tournament, following their standout performances in Ghana, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The pair played pivotal roles in guiding Nigeria’s U-20 side to a second-place finish at the sub-regional competition, where the Flying Eagles narrowly lost 1–0 to Côte d’Ivoire in the final.

The tournament’s Best XI was largely dominated by the Ivorians, who clinched the title with a resilient display in the final. Nigeria’s only concession came through a costly late error, as goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt mishandled a set-piece delivery, allowing an Ivorian player to score the decisive goal.

Despite the heartbreak, the Flying Eagles' overall performance — marked by strong defensive organization and disciplined teamwork — earned Bamayi and Akinyele well-deserved recognition among the competition’s elite players.

The WAFU B Championship served as a key preparatory tournament for Nigeria ahead of the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile. The Flying Eagles have been drawn in a challenging Group C alongside Colombia, Norway, and Saudi Arabia.

Nigeria’s U-20 team, coached by Aliyu Zubairu, previously impressed at the 2023 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, where they secured the bronze medal with a victory over the host nation in the third-place playoff.