Flying Eagles head coach Abdu Maikaba has hailed his players’ character after Nigeria came from an intense opening spell to defeat Ghana 4-2 in their opening match of the WAFU B U-20 Boys Championship, describing the result as the perfect start to the tournament.
The seven-time African champions recovered from a difficult opening period to claim an emphatic victory over the Black Satellites, taking a significant step towards qualification for the knockout stages.
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Reacting after the match, Maikaba admitted Ghana dominated the early exchanges but praised his players for remaining composed and turning the contest around before the interval.
“It was a very good start for us. Ghana had the momentum in the first 25 minutes, but we stayed focused, got the goals before halftime and that changed the complexion of the game,” Maikaba said.
The Flying Eagles scored crucial goals before the break to seize control of the encounter, with Maikaba believing the halftime advantage proved decisive.
“The goal cushion we created before halftime gave us confidence and allowed us to manage the second half much better. The players executed our game plan well when it mattered most,” he added.
The experienced tactician noted that defeating one of West Africa’s strongest youth sides provides an important psychological boost as Nigeria prepares for its remaining group fixtures.
A victory over traditional rivals Ghana is also expected to strengthen belief within the squad as the Flying Eagles continue their quest to reclaim the regional title and build momentum ahead of future continental competitions.
Nigeria will now shift its focus to its next Group B fixture, with Maikaba urging his players to remain grounded despite the impressive opening victory, as they seek to secure qualification for the semi-finals and maintain their winning start to the championship.
