Flying Eagles Face Burkina Faso for WAFU B U20 Title, AFCON Ticket

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles will face the Young Stallions of Burkina Faso on Sunday in the final of the 2026 WAFU B U20 Championship in Yamoussoukro, with the encounter also serving as a battle for qualification for next year’s Africa U20 Cup of Nations.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said the seven-time African champions are aiming to retain the regional title they won in Lomé, Togo, in October 2024.

According to the NFF Communications Department, Sunday’s final will determine the second team from the WAFU B zone to qualify for next year’s Africa U20 Cup of Nations alongside hosts Ghana.

The Flying Eagles, led by coach Abdu Maikaba, will be seeking revenge against Burkina Faso after suffering a 2-0 defeat to the Young Stallions in the group stage of the competition.

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The final will also be the first time both sides will meet at this stage of the regional tournament, although they have previously faced each other in the group stage.

The NFF recalled that the two teams played a 2-2 draw when they met in Niger Republic in 2022, while Burkina Faso edged Nigeria 1-0 in their 2024 encounter in Lomé.

Maikaba said his team would use its previous encounter with Burkina Faso to prepare for Sunday’s decisive clash.

“I think this is an opportunity for us to redeem ourselves having lost to Burkina Faso in the group stage,” Maikaba said.

“Having played them before, we now have an idea of their shape and structure and we are working on how to capitalize on their weaknesses, while also consolidating on our own strength.”

The match is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. on Sunday at the Stade Charles Konan Banny in Yamoussoukro.