West Africa’s footballing titans, Nigeria and Ghana, are set to clash once again in what promises to be a fiery edition of the 2025 WAFU Zone B U-20 Cup of Nations, after being drawn in the same group alongside neighbours Benin Republic.

The tournament, now rescheduled to take place from July 10 to 23, will unfold at the GFA Technical Centre in Prampram, Ghana. It serves as the qualifying gateway to the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles, under the guidance of head coach Aliyu Zubairu, are back in Abuja to resume camp following the competition’s postponement. They’ll be aiming to stamp their dominance once more, especially against familiar foes Ghana in a fixture commonly known as the Jollof Derby.

The historic rivalry between both nations adds extra heat to the group, as Nigeria recently edged Ghana in two key duels — the Super Eagles’ Unity Cup triumph and a gripping 2-1 win in last year’s WAFU B final at U20 level.

Group B, meanwhile, houses Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Togo — a tightly packed pool where only the top two teams from each group will reach the semifinals.

Significantly, this year’s tournament is exclusive to WAFU Zone B members after Zone A nations were disqualified due to organizational lapses.

More than just regional bragging rights are at stake: this tournament is a launchpad for tomorrow’s stars and a crucial preparatory step toward the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, slated for September 27 to October 19, 2025.

With seven U-20 AFCON titles and two FIFA U-20 World Cup final appearances to their name, Nigeria’s Flying Eagles are eyeing another golden chapter in their storied history.