Maikaba backs Flying Eagles stars after 4-1 WAFU-B final loss

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles finished as runners-up at the 2026 WAFU-B U-20 Championship after losing 4-1 to Burkina Faso in the final. The result followed a 2-0 group-stage defeat by the same opponents, who secured the regional title in Côte d’Ivoire.

Despite the disappointing finish, coach Abdu Maikaba believes the tournament can help several members of his squad move into bigger opportunities. He said some players had shown enough ability to merit chances at the next level, although he did not expect every member of the group to reach the top of the game.

Maikaba pointed to the exposure gained during the competition as an important part of the players’ development. The Flying Eagles faced strong opposition on their way to the final, giving the youngsters experience that could support their progress beyond the under-20 setup.

The coach also identified the possibility of a longer pathway for the standout performers. Continued development could bring some of them into consideration for Nigeria’s U-23 team and, eventually, the senior national side. Their progress will depend on what they do after leaving the Flying Eagles environment.

Nigeria had entered the competition as defending champions, while qualification for the 2027 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations was the main objective before the tournament began. Reaching the final kept the team in contention for that wider development route, even though Burkina Faso proved too strong in both meetings.

The squad reflected the range of players available to Nigeria’s under-20 programme. The initial 35-player camp included footballers from domestic clubs and academies in Spain and Croatia. Maikaba’s assessment is that the WAFU-B campaign has given the most impressive members of that group a platform, but their next steps will determine whether the opportunity leads to senior-level football.