Nigeria’s Flying Eagles, the seven-time African champions and current WAFU B U20 titleholders, are facing a must-win situation in their next match against Cote d’Ivoire’s Young Elephants on Thursday. A victory is essential to keep their hopes of advancing in the tournament alive, as any result short of that would likely see them exit at the group stage.
The Flying Eagles faced a setback in their opening game, suffering a 1-0 defeat to Burkina Faso’s Young Etalons on Friday. Burkina Faso then lost 1-0 to Cote d’Ivoire, further complicating Nigeria’s path to the semifinals.
In the three-team group format, where each team plays only two matches, Nigeria now finds itself in a precarious position. With both Cote d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso tied at the top of the group, the Flying Eagles need a two-goal win over Cote d’Ivoire to guarantee a spot in the semifinals and continue their title defense.
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Ibrahim Musa Gusau expressed his disappointment at the loss to Burkina Faso but remains hopeful that the team will recover. He encouraged the coaches and players to regroup and develop a strategy to overcome the Ivorians.
Progressing to the U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) remains a critical objective for Nigeria, particularly after the team’s impressive run to the quarterfinals of the FIFA U20 World Cup last year.
