Nigeria draw Cote d’Ivoire, Benin in fierce WAFU B battle

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...Nigeria touch down in the land of honest man
By Mishael Emmanuel 
 

Nigeria’s schoolboy hopefuls have landed in Ouagadougou with one mission, dominate West Africa and secure a ticket to the continental final.

The draws for the WAFU B zonal qualifiers of the 2024 CAF Schools Football Championship have handed Nigeria a tricky Group B test against Cote d’Ivoire and Benin Republic—two teams known for their physicality and fearless youth sides. 

The qualifiers kick off this week in the Burkinabe capital.

While the tournament features both male and female categories, Nigeria will fight solely in the boys’ event. 

Hosts Burkina Faso, Ghana and Niger occupy Group A, leaving Nigeria’s boys to slug it out in a tight three-team race.

Coach Oluwaseun Oyeniyi’s 19-man squad—assembled from standout talents across Kaduna, Jalingo, Ogwashi-Ukwu, Enugu and Ekiti—will open their campaign on Monday at the Stade du 4 Août against Cote d’Ivoire at 11am. Less than 24 hours later, the boys return for a 9am showdown with Benin Republic.

Semi-finals come up Wednesday, with the final and third-place match set for Thursday, ensuring a rapid-fire four-day football festival.

The Nigerian contingent touched down in Ouagadougou on Saturday after connecting through Lagos and Abidjan, settling into Hotel Splendid with spirits high and eyes firmly on the continental ticket.

From the sharp hands of goalkeepers Sa’adu Tukur and Joshua Chima to the attacking threat of Marcus Adeyanju, Wisdom Okonkwo and Umar Faruk Shuaibu, the young Eagles arrive with talent, energy and a growing belief that they can fly over the sub-region.

Now the stage is set.
Nigeria’s schoolboys have their boots, their dreams, and a clear path. All that’s left is to play.

It's noteworthy to mention that Nigeria has never qualified for the continental finals.
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