Falconets Set for Ghana Showdown as WAFU B U20 Cup Kicks Off in Benin

Nigeria’s Falconets will face a tough opening test when they take on defending champions Ghana in their first match of the 2025 WAFU B U20 Girls’ Cup on Saturday in Cotonou, Benin Republic.

The regional tournament, running from November 7 to 12, has been reduced to three teams — Nigeria, Ghana, and hosts Benin — following the late withdrawal of Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso. Organisers have adopted a round-robin format, with each team playing the others twice. The side with the most points at the end will be crowned champions.

Head coach Moses Aduku will lead the Falconets, who are determined to reclaim the title they narrowly lost to Ghana in the 2023 final. The team has been training intensively in Porto-Novo, focusing on tactics and fitness ahead of the 10 a.m. kickoff on Saturday.

Aduku, who took over from long-serving coach Chris Danjuma in July, previously served as Danjuma’s assistant during Nigeria’s quarter-final run at the 2022 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica.

Beyond regional glory, the Falconets are also using the tournament as key preparation for the final rounds of the 2026 U20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers. Nigeria recently defeated Rwanda 5-0 on aggregate and will next face Senegal, who thrashed Algeria 6-0.

Ghana, who started their title defence on Friday with a 2-0 win over Benin through goals from Linda Owusu Ansah and Sarah Nyarko, will again be Nigeria’s biggest hurdle. The Falconets will be eager to avenge last year’s penalty shootout defeat and lift the trophy to reassert their dominance in West African women’s football.