Ghana Vs Nigeria: “We’re Ready” Despite Short Notice for WAFU U20 Opener - Flying Eagles Coach

Ghana Vs Nigeria: “We’re Ready” Despite Short Notice for WAFU U20 Opener - Flying Eagles Coach 

By Niyi Busari 

 Nigeria U20 head coach Aliyu Zubair has acknowledged that the Flying Eagles had minimal preparation time for the 2025 WAFU Zone B U20 Championship, but insists his team remains fully prepared for their opening clash against Ghana.

The high-profile Group A encounter is set for Thursday, July 10, at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram, with kick-off at 15:00 GMT.

Speaking at the official pre-match press conference on Wednesday, Zubair revealed that the team had to pivot quickly from their initial focus on preparations for the FIFA U20 World Cup.

 “We’re ready, but it’s really not the competition we were preparing for,” Zubair admitted. “We reconvened just a week ago. This wasn’t our original plan, but we’ve had to reorganize quickly for this tournament — and we’re ready.”

Despite the condensed build-up, Zubair expressed faith in his squad’s character and pride, particularly given the historical rivalry between Nigeria and Ghana at all levels of the game.

"The rivalry between Ghana and Nigeria goes beyond football. Even at grassroots level, it’s always a big deal,” he said. “There’s mutual respect and healthy competition, and that makes every encounter exciting.”

The Flying Eagles are entering the tournament as defending champions, having defeated Ghana in the final of the last edition held in Togo. Thursday’s opener not only marks the start of their title defense but also reignites one of West Africa’s most iconic football rivalries.

With Group A consisting of just three teams — Nigeria, Ghana, and Benin — every point will carry significant weight in the race to secure a semi-final berth.