Nigeria’s Falconets will begin their 2025 WAFU B U20 Girls’ Cup campaign with a stern test against fierce rivals and defending champions Ghana on Saturday in Cotonou, Benin Republic, Soccernet.ng reports.
The regional tournament, which runs from November 7 to 12, has been trimmed to only three nations, Nigeria, Ghana, and hosts Benin, after the late withdrawal of Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso.
In response, organisers adopted a round-robin format, meaning each team will play the others twice.
The side with the most points at the end of the fixtures will be crowned champions.
Head coach Moses Aduku will lead the Falconets into the competition, determined to reclaim the title Nigeria narrowly lost to Ghana in 2023.
Aduku’s team have been training intensively in Porto-Novo, sharpening tactics and fitness ahead of their 10 a.m. kickoff against the Black Maidens on Saturday, 8 November.
Get Our Sports News First – Join Our WhatsApp Channel Now!
Aduku’s Falconets eye redemption and World Cup momentum
Aduku, who replaced long-serving coach Chris Danjuma in July, brings experience and composure to the technical bench.
The former Bayelsa Queens and Edo Queens coach previously served as assistant to Danjuma during the Falconets’ quarter-final run at the 2022 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica.
Beyond chasing regional pride, the Falconets are also using the WAFU Cup as key preparation for the final rounds of the 2026 U20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
Nigeria recently dispatched Rwanda 5-0 on aggregate to advance to the third round, where they will face Senegal, who themselves thrashed Algeria 6-0. The winner of that tie will move on to the final qualifying round to face either Guinea-Bissau or Malawi.
Ghana, who began their title defence on Friday with a 2-0 victory over Benin courtesy of goals from Linda Owusu Ansah and Sarah Nyarko, will pose a formidable challenge once again.
Photo Credit: Ufoawafu B /X
The two sides last met in the 2023 WAFU B U20 final, which Ghana won 3-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regulation time. That was the maiden edition of the competition. Nigeria will now aim to make history by lifting the trophy in this second edition and reassert their dominance in West African women’s football.
