WAFU B U-20: Flying Eagles leave for Togo Tuesday

Nigeria’s U-20 men’s team, the Flying Eagles, will on Tuesday depart the country for the 2024 WAFU B U20 Championship in Lome, Togo, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Speaking exclusively to our correspondent on Saturday, the team’s media officer, Sharif Abdallah, said 20 of the 27 players in camp will make the trip, adding that no pre-tournament tests have been arranged for the team before commencing defence of the title they won in Niger Republic two years ago on October 18 in Group B, which also houses Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast.
After a three-week selection process in Abuja, the Flying Eagles moved to Ikenne, Ogun State, for a one-week final camping programme at the high-grade Remo Sports Institute.
The 2023 FIFA World Cup quarter-finalists have played two friendly matches since arriving in Ikenne, both ending in victories, trouncing Seamoriow FC 4-1 in the first match and edging Grass Runners Academy 2-1 in the second.
Hosts Togo will battle Ghana, Benin Republic, and Niger Republic in Group A of the competition that is scheduled for October 17 to 31.
The championship serves as the qualifying tournament for next year’s Africa U20 Cup of Nations, from where the top-placed four teams will qualify to fly Africa’s flag at next year’s FIFA U20 World Cup finals in Chile.