Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets suffered a disappointing start to their campaign at the four-nation invitational tournament in China after losing 3-2 to Tanzania’s Serengeti Boys in their opening match on Sunday.
The five-time FIFA U-17 World Cup champions went into the encounter in Yinchuan hoping to begin the competition with a victory, but Tanzania took control in the first half through goals from Issa Chole and Hamisi Chenga, leaving the Nigerians with a mountain to climb after the break.
The Golden Eaglets responded with greater urgency in the second half and managed to reduce the deficit as they searched for a way back into the contest. However, Tanzania added another goal with Kassim Juma finding the net, sealing an impressive victory for the East African side.
The defeat leaves coach Uwejamomere Eboboritse’s team with work to do as they prepare for their second fixture of the tournament. The Golden Eaglets will turn their attention to Wednesday’s clash against Australia, where they will be seeking their first points and a positive response.
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The four-nation competition is being organised by the Ningxia Football Association in collaboration with the Yinchuan Sports Bureau, with promotion handled by the China Football Industry Development Corporation. The tournament serves as a platform for participating teams to fine-tune their preparations ahead of major international competitions.
For Nigeria, the tournament forms a key part of the build-up to the WAFU B U-17 Championship in September, which will serve as the qualifying competition for next year’s U-17 Africa Cup of Nations. The Golden Eaglets will be hoping to bounce back strongly in their remaining matches as they continue preparations for the regional qualifiers.
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