Nigeria’s youth national team, Flying Eagles’ coach, Abdu Maikaba has admitted that his wards must go for victory in Sunday’s West African Football Union (WAFU)-B U20 Cup final versus Burkina Faso, in order to redeem themselves agianst a side that defeated them earlier in the competition.
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Sports247 reports that Maikaba recalled how the Junior Stallions dealt his squad a shock defeat in the group stage, but the Nigerians had already qualified for the semi-finals, where they beat Cote d’Ivoire via penalties and they are now set to lock horns again.
Heading into Sunday’s game in the Ivorian city of Yamoussoukro, Maikaba assured that the seven-time African champions will go all out to retain the trophy they won in Lome, Togo in October 2024 and become the second team from WAFU B zone to be at the 2027 Africa U20 Cup of Nations, with the hosts, Ghana.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s clash, which will start at 7pm inside Stade Charles Konan Banny in Yamoussoukro, Maikaba said, “This is an opportunity for us to redeem ourselves, having lost to Burkina Faso in the group stage.
“Having played them before, we now have an idea of their shape and structure. So, we are working on how to capitalize on their weaknesses, while also consolidating on our own strength.”
However, Sports247 reports that it will not be an easy game for the Flying Eagles, who not only lost 2-0 to the Burkinabes this year. they also managed a 2-2 draw when both sides locked horns at the 2022 edition in Niger Republic, while the Junior Stallions won 1-0 in Lome, Togo two years ago.
