Tanzania’s U-17 national team defeated Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets 3-2 in an entertaining opening match of the 2026 China International Youth Football Tournament on Saturday at the Yinchuan Sports Centre Helanshan Stadium in Yinchuan, China.
The five-goal thriller marked the start of the four-nation invitational competition, with Tanzania producing a spirited performance to hand the five-time FIFA U-17 World Cup champions a narrow defeat.
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Tanzania’s goals came through Issa Chole, Hamisi Chenga, and Kassim Juma, while the Golden Eaglets fought hard but were unable to avoid defeat in their opening fixture.
The tournament serves as a key part of Nigeria’s preparations for the WAFU B U-17 Championship, scheduled for September.
The regional tournament will determine qualification for the 2027 CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.
Under the guidance of head coach Uwejamomere Eboboritse, the Golden Eaglets are using the competition to build team chemistry, assess players, and fine-tune tactics ahead of the crucial qualifiers.
The 2026 China International Youth Football Tournament also features hosts China and Australia, and giving Nigeria valuable international exposure against quality opposition.
Nigeria will now shift focus to their second fixture against Australia on Wednesday, July 8, before rounding off the tournament against hosts China on Saturday, July 11.
Despite the opening setback, the Golden Eaglets still have two matches remaining to improve their performances and continue preparations for the all-important WAFU B qualifying campaign.
