Golden Eaglets Head to China for Four-Nation Youth Tournament

Posted : 03 July 2026

Nigeria's U-17 national team, the Golden Eaglets, have departed for China to participate in the 2026 China International Youth Football Tournament, which will be held in Yinchuan from July 5 to 11.

The five-time FIFA U-17 World Cup champions will compete against hosts China, Australia and Tanzania in the four-nation competition. All matches will be played at the Yinchuan Sports Centre Helanshan Stadium, providing the young Nigerian side with valuable international experience.

The tournament is jointly hosted by the Chinese Football Association, the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Administration of Sport and the Yinchuan Municipal People's Government. It is organised by the Ningxia Football Association in partnership with the Yinchuan Sports Bureau and promoted by the China Football Industry Development Corporation.

Head coach Uwejamomere Eboboritse will lead a 20-man squad for the competition. He will be assisted by Kalli Mohammed Kachalla and Abdullahi Isa as the technical crew continues to build a competitive team ahead of upcoming continental assignments.

The invitational tournament forms an important part of Nigeria's preparations for the 2026 WAFU B U-17 Championship. That regional competition, scheduled for September, will serve as the qualification tournament for the 2027 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations.

Facing quality opposition from three different football regions is expected to help the coaching staff assess the squad's tactical development, fitness levels and ability to compete under tournament conditions. The matches will also give several players the opportunity to stake their claim for regular places in the team ahead of the crucial WAFU B campaign.

China will look to use home advantage in front of their supporters, while Australia and Tanzania are also expected to provide stern tests for the Golden Eaglets. The tournament offers Nigeria a chance to measure its progress against teams with different playing styles before competitive qualifiers begin.

Nigeria remains one of the most successful nations in youth football, having won a record five FIFA U-17 World Cup titles. The technical crew will hope the experience gained in China will strengthen the team's preparations as it aims to qualify for both the 2027 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations and the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

The Golden Eaglets are expected to begin their campaign on July 5, with the week-long tournament providing a valuable platform to fine-tune the squad before the start of regional qualifying action later this year.

Golden Eaglets Head to China for Four-Nation Youth Tournament

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