Ghana’s Black Satellites head coach Maxwell Konadu has declared his side ready for a high-stakes clash against defending champions Nigeria as both West African rivals prepare to open their 2026 WAFU B U-20 Championship campaign in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire.
The highly anticipated Group B encounter is a repeat of the 2024 WAFU B final, where the Flying Eagles defeated Ghana 2-1 to retain the regional title. It also serves as one of the headline fixtures of the tournament, which doubles as the qualification pathway to the 2027 CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.
Speaking ahead of the derby, Konadu admitted that facing Nigeria has provided extra motivation for his players, who are eager to avenge their defeat in the previous final.
“We are prepared because it is Nigeria. The players understand the magnitude of this match and they know exactly what is at stake,” Konadu said.
The former Asante Kotoko coach revealed that Ghana’s preparations have gone according to plan, expressing confidence that his squad has what it takes to overcome the defending champions.
“We have prepared enough to win. We know Nigeria are the defending champions, so we must work even harder if we want to start the tournament with a positive result,” he added.
Konadu also praised the quality of the Flying Eagles but insisted his players are mentally and tactically ready for one of the fiercest rivalries in African youth football.
Ghana arrived in Côte d’Ivoire after an intensive training programme and several warm-up matches, with the technical crew using the build-up to fine-tune tactics ahead of the opener.
While Ghana has already secured qualification for the 2027 CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations as tournament hosts, the Black Satellites are determined to reclaim the WAFU B title and lay down a marker ahead of next year’s continental championship.
With both nations regarded as traditional powerhouses of youth football in Africa, Monday’s encounter is expected to set the tone for Group B, as Ghana seeks revenge for its previous final defeat and Nigeria aims to begin its title defence with another statement victory.
