Nigeria's Flying Eagles head coach, Aliyu Zubairu, has played down any suggestion of rivalry-driven motivation ahead of his side's clash with hosts Ghana in the opening match of the 2025 WAFU Zone B U20 Championship, Soccernet.ng reports .
While Zubairu admits the game against the Black Satellites is important, the Flying Eagles boss insists that the real focus is long-term preparation for September's FIFA U20 World Cup.
The Flying Eagles, who are defending champions of the regional tournament, will take on Ghana at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram on Thursday, July 10. Benin completes the trio in Group A.
Speaking to journalists during the pre-match press conference , Zubairu was candid about the team's priorities.
Zubairu further explained that the WAFU tournament, although not initially on the team's calendar, offers a crucial window to evaluate his squad.