Black Satellites head coach Maxwell Konadu says his side is fully prepared and motivated to take on Nigeria in their opening match of the 2026 WAFU B U-20 Championship.
Ghana will renew their fierce rivalry with Nigeria later today at the Lycée Scientifique Stadium in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire, in a highly anticipated Group B encounter.
Although Konadu admitted his technical team has had limited opportunities to assess the Nigerian side, he expressed confidence in his players’ ability to deliver.
“We haven’t seen their team yet, but we believe we have the boys who can go out there and defend the flag of Ghana,” he said.
Konadu believes the historic rivalry between Ghana and Nigeria will inspire both teams to produce their best performances.
“We’re motivated because it’s Nigeria, and they will also be motivated because they are playing Ghana. Matches between these two nations—we all know what they mean. I think the best team will carry the day,” he added.
The former Ghana international acknowledged Nigeria’s physical style of play but said Ghana would rely on tactical discipline and intelligent football to gain the upper hand.
“Nigeria has always been aggressive, which we’re aware of. Let’s see how our boys respond to that. Maybe we have to circulate the ball a bit. We’ll try to think before they act, and I think that will be one of the key areas we have to exploit,” Konadu explained.
He also recognised the challenge of facing the defending champions but stressed that Ghana is determined to end Nigeria’s reign.
“We know Nigeria are the defending champions and we have to work even harder to dethrone them,” he stated.
Ghana has been drawn in Group B alongside Nigeria, Burkina Faso and Togo, with the Black Satellites aiming to qualify for the knockout stage and challenge for the title.
The WAFU B U-20 Championship also serves as the qualifying tournament for the 2027 CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, which Ghana will host.
