Nigeria’s Flying Eagles faced a setback in their WAFU B U-20 Championship opener, falling 1-0 to Burkina Faso on Friday in Lome, Togo.
The decisive moment came in the second half when Burkina Faso’s Dramane Coulibaly capitalized on a defensive error, giving his team a crucial win in Group B.
Despite dominating possession for large parts of the game, Nigeria struggled to break down a resilient Burkina Faso defense. Both teams entered halftime deadlocked at 0-0, but Burkina Faso looked the more dangerous after the break. Nigeria’s inability to convert their chances came back to haunt them when Coulibaly struck, leaving the Flying Eagles scrambling for a response.
With Burkina Faso now leading Group B, Nigeria’s path to the semifinals has become much tougher. They face a must-win scenario against Cote D’Ivoire, who had a bye in the first round. Only the top two teams in the group will advance, meaning the Flying Eagles need nothing short of a victory to stay in contention.
The stakes are high, as the WAFU B Championship serves as a qualifying tournament for both the 2025 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations and the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
For Nigeria, their next match will be crucial in deciding their fate in the competition.