Nigeria’s Flying Eagles kicked off their title defence at the WAFU-B U-20 Championship with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against perennial rivals and tournament hosts Ghana in their opening Group A clash on Thursday.
The highly anticipated derby, staged at the University of Ghana Stadium in Prampram, Accra, lived up to expectations in intensity and drama. Backed by a lively home crowd, the Black Satellites started on the front foot and dominated the early exchanges. Their pressure paid off in the 22nd minute when captain Aziz Misbau unleashed a thunderous strike from outside the box to give Ghana a deserved lead.
The Ghanaians continued to press for a second goal, but Nigeria’s defence held firm, with goalkeeper Nathaniel Nwosu making several key saves to keep the scoreline at 1-0 heading into the break.
Coach Aliyu Zubairu’s boys returned for the second half with renewed purpose and gradually gained control of the midfield. With their attacking intent now evident, the Flying Eagles began to create chances, pushing the Ghanaian backline deeper.
Their persistence was finally rewarded in the 80th minute when Abdullahi Muhammad rose highest to nod home a well-delivered corner kick, restoring parity and sparking celebrations on the Nigerian bench.
Both sides chased a late winner in the final minutes, but neither could find the cutting edge as the match ended in a stalemate. Despite the draw, it was a valuable point for the Flying Eagles in a tough opener against the hosts.
Earlier, in his official pre-match press conference, Flying Eagles’ Coach, Aliyu Zubair revealed that the team had to swiftly reorganise following an initial focus on preparations for the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
The result leaves both nations with one point apiece in Group A. Nigeria will now shift focus to their second group match against Benin Republic, scheduled for Sunday, July 13, at the same venue.
A win in that fixture would seal qualification to the semi-finals for the defending champions, who are aiming to retain the title they won in the last two editions of the competition in Niger Republic and Togo respectively.