Nigeria’s Flying Eagles have been handed a challenging group in the draw for the 2026 WAFU B U-20 Championship, the qualifying tournament for the 2027 CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.
The draw, conducted on Wednesday at the headquarters of the <a href="https://absafricatv.com/un-warns-of-widening-terrorist-threat-across-west-africa-and-the-sahel/" title="UN warns of widening terrorist threat across West Africa and the Sahel”>West African Football Union (WAFU) Zone B in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, placed Nigeria in Group B alongside hosts of the 2027 U-20 AFCON, Ghana, Burkina Faso, and Togo.
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The group is widely regarded as the “group of death,” with perennial rivals Nigeria and Ghana expected to renew one of African football’s fiercest rivalries.
Burkina Faso and Togo are also capable of causing major upsets, setting the stage for a highly competitive qualification campaign.
Group A consists of Côte d’Ivoire, Benin Republic, and Niger Republic.
The WAFU B U-20 Championship will feature the seven member associations of the regional football body and will determine the teams that qualify for the 2027 TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be hosted by Ghana.
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles, one of Africa’s most successful youth teams, will be aiming to navigate the difficult group and book their place at the continental championship.
Côte d’Ivoire
Benin Republic
Niger Republic
Ghana
Nigeria
Burkina Faso
Togo
The tournament is expected to showcase some of the brightest young talents in West African football as the race for places at the 2027 CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations begins.
