Abdu Maikaba Reflects on Nigeria U-20’s 4-2 Victory Over Ghana

Nigeria U-20 head coach Abdu Maikaba expressed his delight after the Flying Eagles opened their WAFU B U-20 Championship campaign with an impressive 4-2 victory over Ghana.

Maikaba revealed that scoring within the opening five minutes gave Nigeria the confidence to execute their game plan, even though Ghana dominated possession for much of the first 25 minutes.

He explained that his side identified their shortcomings, made the necessary adjustments before halftime, and responded brilliantly after Ghana equaliser by scoring two more goals.

The coach noted that the second half was more tactical, with Nigeria remaining compact defensively while waiting for opportunities to launch quick counter-attacks.

That strategy paid off, as the Flying Eagles added another goal before a late penalty sealed a convincing opening day victory.

Maikaba also reserved special praise for striker Abdul Mueez Adeleke, describing him as one of the brightest young forwards in Africa.

He disclosed that the youngster already has a pre-contract agreement with Chelsea and believes Adeleke has the potential to score even more goals, despite netting twice including a penalty against Ghana.

Looking ahead, the Flying Eagles boss stressed that while defeating Ghana is a positive start, the team’s full attention has now shifted to the remaining group fixtures.

He described Togo as another formidable opponent and insisted Nigeria will approach every match with the same determination, discipline, and respect.