Nigeria’s Flying Eagles head coach, Aliyu Zubairu, has emphasized long-term goals over rivalry narratives as his team prepares to face hosts Ghana in the opening match of the 2025 WAFU Zone B U20 Championship.
The highly anticipated fixture will take place on Thursday, July 10, at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram. Nigeria, defending champions of the regional tournament, are grouped alongside Ghana and Benin in Group A.
Despite the historical football rivalry between Nigeria and Ghana, Zubairu downplayed any notions of emotional motivation stemming from that rivalry. Speaking at a pre-match press conference, the coach made it clear that the Flying Eagles’ primary focus is preparation for the FIFA U20 World Cup later this year.
“We don’t have any advantage over Ghana at all,” Zubairu stated. “Honestly, that’s not why we are here. We just want to assess our team and begin to organise ourselves properly for the World Cup.”
He explained that the WAFU competition, although not originally part of the team’s preparation calendar, now serves as a vital platform to evaluate the squad’s readiness.
“For me, this tournament has come at the right time for Nigeria. It provides us with a good opportunity to build towards the World Cup, and that’s what matters most.”
Zubairu also noted that the Flying Eagles only regrouped a week prior to the tournament, adjusting quickly to accommodate the unexpected schedule. Despite the limited preparation, he expressed confidence in his players’ ability to deliver.
“We’re ready,” he said. “Even though this wasn’t our intended time to prepare for the World Cup, we’ve had to reorganise quickly because of this tournament.”
Acknowledging the long-standing rivalry between Nigeria and Ghana, Zubairu added that while it remains an exciting fixture at all levels, the focus remains professional.
“We know the history—it’s always been like that, even in community football. It’s always a big game when Nigeria faces Ghana. But for us, the priority is to build a team that will represent the country well at the World Cup.”
Nigeria defeated Ghana in the final of the previous edition of the WAFU B U20 Championship held in Togo, and while the Flying Eagles enter the tournament as defending champions, their eyes are firmly set on the global stage come September.
