WAFU B U20 CHAMPIONSHIP: Our Focus Is on World Cup Preparation – Nigeria Coach Aliyu Zubair

Aliyu Zubair, head coach of Nigeria’s U20 national team, says his side is not looking for any advantage over Ghana in their opening match of the 2025 WAFU Zone B U20 Championship. Instead, he emphasized that the competition serves as a timely platform for Nigeria to begin preparations for next year’s FIFA U20 World Cup.

Nigeria, the defending champions of the WAFU B U20 Championship, face host nation Ghana on Thursday, July 10 at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram. The match is the first in Group A, which also features Benin.

Addressing the media on Wednesday, Coach Zubair made it clear that the focus for Nigeria goes beyond regional bragging rights. “We don’t have any advantage over Ghana at all. Honestly, that’s not why we are here. We just want to know the level of our team and we begin to organise ourselves for the World Cup,” he stated.

Zubair admitted that while the WAFU tournament wasn’t originally on the team’s schedule, it comes at an ideal time to assess players, test tactical systems, and build cohesion. “For me, this tournament has come for Nigeria. It’ll offer us a good platform to prepare for the World Cup and that is what is important to us,” he added.

The Flying Eagles recently reconvened after a short break, with the aim of using the WAFU competition to sharpen their squad ahead of global competition. Despite the short notice, the team is determined to perform well and defend their regional title.

Their opening clash with Ghana promises a spectacle, not only for its historic rivalry but also as a test of future World Cup ambitions.

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