Sunday’s final of the WAFU B U20 AFCON qualifying tournament in Yamoussoukro, Cote d’Ivoire, will have the winners taking all the spoils – the sub-regional trophy as well as the sole ticket to the 2027 U20 AFCON in Ghana.
Only the champions will advance to next year’s U20 AFCON as the competition will be staged by Ghana, the second team from WAFU B.
To reach the final game of the tournament, Nigeria stopped hosts Cote d’Ivoire 4-3 on penalties after scores after extra-time stood at 2-2, while Burkina Faso beat Niger 2-0 after extra-time.
The Flying Eagles are the defending champions having beaten perennial rivals Ghana 2-1 in the final in Lome, Togo, two years ago.
However, The Young Stallions of Burkina will be a hard nut to crack after they outclassed the Flying Eagles 2-0 in a Group B clash.
The Burkinababes were far and away the better team on the day and will even brag that “we clipped the wings of the Flying Eagles”.
Nigeria coach Abdu Maikaba said ahead of this final that his team hope to avenge the group stage loss to remain champions.
“When we met the first time, we lost. I hope it will be our turn to win the final and take home the trophy,” he said.
“Burkina Faso are a very good team, they have not lost in this tournament, so they’re special. Maybe they will now lose in the final.
“We should expect an explosive encounter between the two teams.”
Flying Eagles
Burkina Faso have enjoyed a superior head-to-head record against their Nigerian counterparts in this competition and so they will go into the championship game very high on confidence.
