Flying Eagles head coach, Aliyu Zubairu says his team is in the right frame of mind and well-prepared to take on Ghana in the WAFU B U20 Championship final on Wednesday.

Nigeria booked their place in the final after a convincing 3-1 victory over Niger Republic, setting up a high-stakes clash with familiar rivals, Ghana.

Speaking to Brila.net, Zubairu emphasized the team’s readiness and acknowledged the significance of the rivalry between both nations.

“Our preparations have been very good considering the rivalry between Nigeria and Ghana at every level of football, that’s how it has always been. The boys too knows that so they need to win the match,” Zubairu said.

He revealed that the players are fully aware of the stakes beyond just football.

“Yesterday night the players were talking about Jollof rice rivalry during their dinner and that they will sort it out today.”

Ghana U20 MNT. Photo | X

Zubairu also reflected on the team’s initial goal, which was to secure a ticket to the U20 Africa Cup of Nations. With that objective achieved, he now urges his players to aim for the ultimate prize.

“At the beginning, we were talking about securing the ticket to the Nations Cup; we didn’t want to pursue two things at a time.

“Now that we’ve qualified, our next target is to go all out to win the trophy,” he said.

The Flying Eagles will be aiming to retain the title they won two years ago in Niamey, Niger.

Kickoff for the final is scheduled for 8 PM (Nigerian time) on Wednesday at the Stade de Kégué in Lomé, Togo.