The regional tournament will also act as a qualifier for the 2027 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations, with the best-performing teams securing places at the continental finals.
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Nigeria will face strong competition from hosts Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Benin Republic, Togo and Niger Republic.
Despite the challenging opponents, Maikaba believes the Flying Eagles have the quality and determination to compete for success.
“I have great confidence in this squad’s potential, but talent alone will not guarantee success,” he wrote on X.
“To compete against some of West Africa’s youth teams, my players must combine their ability with discipline, hard work, and a winning mentality.”