WAFU B Championship: Make-or-Break Moment for Aliyu Zubairu’s Flying Eagles

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The Flying Eagles’ campaign at the WAFU B Championship began on a disappointing note last Friday as they suffered a 1-0 defeat against the Young Stallions of Burkina Faso.

The defending champions were outmuscled by Burkina Faso, who seized control of the game and deservedly secured the victory.

Burkina Faso’s winning goal came in the 56th minute, capping off their dominance over Nigeria.

The first half saw both teams struggling to settle into the match, with Burkina Faso creating the more dangerous chances.

This result has placed Nigeria in a precarious position. To keep their hopes alive, they must now rely on Burkina Faso defeating Côte d’Ivoire in the second Group B match.

Should that happen, the Flying Eagles’ final group game against the Ivorians on Thursday will be a do-or-die encounter.

A victory would not only redeem their campaign but also secure a place in the semi-finals.

Failure to beat Ivory Coast, however, would spell the end of Nigeria’s WAFU Championship journey.

Given their pedigree, the Flying Eagles will be determined to bounce back and claim all three points in their next match, keeping their dreams of a semifinal spot alive.

Wilfred Ndidi and Taiwo Awoniyi represented Nigeria’s U20 NT.

This tournament also serves as the qualification for the 2025 Africa U20 Cup of Nations, with only the finalists going through.

This edition also serves as the African qualifiers for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, where teams that reach the semifinals will automatically qualify.

In the last AFCON, the Flying Eagles finished third, with Senegal crowned champions and Gambia as runners-up.

However, Nigeria has a rich history in the U-20 AFCON, having won the tournament seven times, the most recent triumph coming in 2015.