Falconets to Face Ghana in New WAFU U-20 Girls’ Cup Format

Nigeria’s U20 Women’s national team, the Falconets, are set for their opening match. They will begin their 2025 West African Football Union (WAFU Zone B) Under-20 Girls’ Cup campaign against the defending champions, the Black Maidens of Ghana. The match is scheduled for Saturday at 10 a.m. in Cotonou, Benin Republic.

The 2025 WAFU Zone B Under-20 Girls’ Cup competition will officially begin on November 7 in Cotonou. Hosts Benin Republic will commence the tournament against Ghana on the opening day at 10 a.m.

Tournament Restructured After Withdrawals

Organizers announced the necessary postponement and restructuring of the championship on November 2. This decision followed the withdrawal of two nations from the region, Mali and Burkina Faso.

The reduction in participating nations necessitated the introduction of a completely new league-style format for the regional championship. The adjusted arrangement was designed with specific goals:

• To maintain competitive balance.
• To provide each nation with more opportunities for match experience.

The organizers explained that the format change aims to promote player development. It also seeks to deepen tactical understanding and ensure fair competition. This aligns with the broader mission to strengthen women’s youth football across the sub-region.

New Format and Schedule

The tournament, which was initially planned for November 3 to November 10, will now run from November 7 to November 12. Only three nations remain in the competition: Nigeria, Ghana, and hosts Benin Republic.

The traditional knockout system has been replaced by a round-robin format. Each participating nation will face the others twice in a home-and-away style setup. The team that finishes at the top of the final standings after all match fixtures will be crowned the WAFU B U20 champion.

The championship serves as an important developmental platform. It is vital for identifying emerging talents. Furthermore, it helps prepare national squads for upcoming youth competitions organized by CAF and FIFA.

Leadership and Communications

The organizers have appointed Tophic Abdul Kadir as the Media Officer for the championship. Kadir currently holds the position of Senior Manager, Communications at the Ghana Football Association.

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