Nigeria under-20 head coach Abdu Maikaba has pledged a sharper, more disciplined Flying Eagles performance when his side meet hosts Côte d'Ivoire in the semi-finals of the WAFU B U-20 Championship on Wednesday.

The two sides will clash at the Stade Charles Konan Banny in Yamoussoukro, with a place in the final and a berth at the 2027 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations both on the line.

Nigeria carry the weight of a bruising 2-0 loss to Burkina Faso into the tie — a result from their final Group B fixture on Sunday that cost them first place in the group. Now, as defending champions, they must respond against an Ivorian team that swept through the group stage with three wins and a clean defensive record.

Defensive lapses in focus

Maikaba made no attempt to hide his frustration at the manner of the defeat to Burkina Faso, singling out his side's defensive organisation as the primary area requiring improvement.