Improved Nigerian U-17 team avoids defeat in final game as preparations continue for WAFU B Championship.
Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets wrapped up their campaign at the 2026 China Four-Nation Invitational Tournament with a 1-1 draw against tournament hosts China, earning their first point after two difficult opening matches.
The Golden Eaglets vs China match provided a much-improved display from the Nigerian U-17 side, who came into the encounter following consecutive defeats to Tanzania and Australia.
Nigeria made a bright start and deservedly took the lead in the 11th minute through Idor Samuel, who finished off a promising attacking move to hand the Golden Eaglets an early advantage.
However, the hosts responded quickly, with Zhang Junhao finding the equaliser just 10 minutes later to restore parity before halftime.
Both teams created opportunities after the restart in an entertaining second half, but neither side managed to find the winning goal as the contest ended in a 1-1 stalemate.
The result ensured the Golden Eaglets ended the China Four-Nation Invitational Tournament on a more encouraging note, collecting their first point of the competition before shifting focus to preparations for the upcoming WAFU B U-17 Championship.
Although Nigeria’s campaign ended without a victory, the performance against China offered positives for the coaching staff as the team continues its build-up to future international competitions.
Meanwhile, Tanzania emerged as the tournament’s standout side, finishing with a perfect record after winning all three of their matches.
The Serengeti Boys sealed top spot with an emphatic 5-2 victory over Australia in their final outing. Hamisi Chenga and Sadam Hussein both scored twice, while Razaki Mbengelendi added another goal to complete an impressive attacking display.
Tanzania had earlier defeated hosts China 2-0 and also recorded a 3-2 victory over Nigeria in their opening fixture, reinforcing their credentials ahead of the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.
Despite a challenging tournament, the Nigeria U-17 team’s performance against China provides a platform to build on as the Golden Eaglets continue preparations for the regional qualifiers, with the technical crew expected to take valuable lessons from the experience gained in China.