Golden Eaglets jet out for China four-nation tournament ahead of U17 AFCON push - Soccernet NG
Nigeria's Golden Eaglets celebrate. Copyright: ImagoNigeria’s Golden Eaglets will depart for China tonight to participate in the 2026 China International Youth Football Tournament as preparations intensify. . .
Nigeria's Golden Eaglets celebrate. Copyright: ImagoNigeria’s Golden Eaglets will depart for China tonight to participate in the 2026 China International Youth Football Tournament as preparations intensify for the upcoming WAFU B U-17 Championship,Soccernet. ngreports. The five-time FIFA U17 World Cup winners are among four nations invited for the tournament scheduled to be held in Yinchuan from July 5 to July 11, with hosts China, Australia, and Tanzania also set to compete. The competition, hosted by the Chinese Football Association in collaboration with the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Administration of Sport and the Yinchuan Municipal People’s Government, will take place at the Yinchuan Sports Centre Helanshan Stadium. For Nigeria, the tournament will serve as a key part of the Golden Eaglets’ build-up to the WAFU B U17 Championship, which also serves as the platform to seal qualification for the 2027 AFCON U-17 tournament. Nigeria's Golden Eaglets. Copyright: ImagoxOlatunjixObasaGet Our Sports News First –Join Our WhatsApp Channel Now!Golden Eaglets coach states plans for China tournamentHead coach Uwejamomere Eboboritse will lead a 20-player squad to China, alongside assistants Kalli Mohammed Kachalla and Abdullahi Isa, as the newly assembled team continues to take shape. The former Sporting Lagos Academy youth coach had earlier described the China trip as a crucial stage in the team’s development. “Our preparations have already started, and the China tour will be very important for this team,” Eboboritse said in quotes revealed bySports 247. Golden Eaglets coach Eboboritse Uwejamomere. Copyright: Eboboritse/XSince resuming camp in Abuja, the Eaglets have shown promising signs in their preparatory matches. They opened with a convincing 4-1 victory over Sporting Dreams before being held to a goalless draw by P Sports FC. They then rounded off their friendlies with an emphatic 5-0 thrashing of Unicorn FC of Kwara. Across those three games, Nigeria scored nine goals and conceded just once. Interestingly, the majority of the current squad were selected from the FIFA Talent Development Scheme (TDS) U15 programme held last year, underlining the Nigeria Football Federation’s growing emphasis on structured grassroots development. Eboboritse Uwejamomere, Daniel Ogunmodede, Fidelis Ilechukwu and Austin Eguavoen. Copyright: Eboboritse/XHowever, the technical crew have confirmed that the squad remains open, with more players expected to be invited after the China tournament as competition for places intensifies. Adefolahan GuerreiroAdefolahan is a multilingual CAF-Accredited sports journalist and football writer whose work spans outlets like Soccernet Nigeria, Pure Football UK, and Royalsportz. With a sharp eye for detail and a background in college sports, he tells the African football story with depth, flair, and global perspective. Fluent in English, Spanish, and German, he brings a cross-cultural voice to his coverage, blending insight with accessibility for readers around the world. His portfolio includes interviews with top Nigerian stars like Finidi George, Junior Lokosa, Sikiru Alimi, Sodiq Ismaila, and Abraham Onahi Ogbu. A devoted Borussia Dortmund fan, Adefolahan thrives on the emotion and rhythm of the beautiful game. Away from work, he’s a sci-fi enthusiast and series lover who enjoys exploring how sport, storytelling, and culture collide.