Future Eagles Depart Nigeria for FIFA U-15 World Cup Festival in Azerbaijan

Posted : 21 October 2026

Nigeria’s Future Eagles are set to begin their international journey as they depart Abuja for the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival in Baku, Azerbaijan. The team is scheduled to leave the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Wednesday night aboard a flight departing at 9:30 p.m., with a stopover in Türkiye before continuing to Azerbaijan.

Head coach Patrick Bassey will lead the Nigerian delegation. The squad has been preparing at the NFF/FIFA Goal Project Hostel inside the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja since October 13. Bassey invited 23 players to the training camp ahead of the competition.

The Future Eagles have been drawn in Group AD alongside South Sudan, Jordan, The Gambia, Cyprus and Pakistan. Nigeria will face a demanding schedule during the group stage, with five matches planned across three days.

Nigeria will open its campaign against South Sudan on Saturday, October 24. The team will then face Jordan and The Gambia on Sunday, October 25, before completing the group stage against Cyprus and Pakistan on Monday, October 26.

The tournament introduces a new format designed to give young players more opportunities to compete internationally. Matches will feature eight players per team and two 20-minute halves. Teams will first compete in a round-robin qualification stage before moving into a second phase based on their group-stage results.

Unlike conventional tournaments, the competition will not eliminate teams after the initial group stage. Instead, participants will be placed into six performance tiers, allowing every team to continue playing for a final ranking. The winner of Tier A will be recognised as the overall FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival champion.

The event is expected to bring together thousands of young players, coaches and officials from football associations around the world. FIFA designed the festival to promote youth development, international experience and cultural exchange through football. The inaugural boys' edition will also serve as the foundation for a girls' tournament scheduled for 2027.

For Nigeria, the competition presents an opportunity to assess emerging talent and strengthen the country's youth development programme. The squad includes players drawn from football academies, schools, clubs and the Nigeria Football Federation's Talent Development Scheme. Bassey will be assisted by Husaini Lawan Umar and Augustine Iyamu.

The Future Eagles will aim to turn their preparations into strong performances against their international opponents. Their ability to manage the demanding fixture schedule and adapt to the eight-a-side format will be important as they pursue a successful campaign in Azerbaijan.

Future Eagles Depart Nigeria for FIFA U-15 World Cup Festival in Azerbaijan

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