Nigeria’s quest to return to the U-20 FIFA World Cup will face a stern test tomorrow when the Flying Eagles meet hosts, Junior Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire, in one of the semifinals of the WAFU B Championship.
 
The Flying Eagles must beat the Ivoiriens to qualify for the African championship, from where the semifinalists will get tickets to the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
 
Nigeria picked the chance to meet the hosts when they lost 2-0 in their last group game of the WAFU B Championship’s Group B final game on Sunday at the Lycée Scientifique Stadium in Yamoussoukro.
 
Before Sunday’s game, the Flying Eagles were on a winning streak with wins over Ghana (4-2) and Togo (3-0). But they came unstuck against a well-drilled Burkinabe side, which ensured Nigeria’s defeat with two first-half goals.
 
Cote d’Ivoire won all their group matches against Benin Republic (5-0) and Niger (2-0), scoring seven goals and conceding none.

The winner of the semifinal will not only advance to the WAFU B U-20 Championship final but will also secure qualification for the 2027 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.
 
A win will ensure that Nigeria moves to the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations and a chance to return to the World Cup, where they finished in the round of 16 in Chile last year.