Nigeria’s U15 boys national team, affectionately known as the Future Eagles, have successfully touched down in Baku, the vibrant capital of Azerbaijan, ahead of the inaugural FIFA U15 World Cup and Festival. Accompanied by their dedicated coaching and backroom staff, the young contingent completed their journey on Thursday afternoon following a departure from Abuja that saw them transit through Istanbul before making their final connection into the Azerbaijani capital for the tournament scheduled to run from October 22nd to October 31st, 2026.
The traveling delegation consists of fourteen talented players and six officials, anchored by Head Coach Patrick Bassey and Team Administrator Nasiru Jibril. Placed in Group AD, the Future Eagles face a demanding schedule as they prepare to lock horns with South Sudan, Jordan, The Gambia, Cyprus, and Pakistan. The campaign kicks off this Saturday with a high stakes encounter against South Sudan, quickly followed by successive fixtures against Jordan and The Gambia on Sunday, before rounding off the group matches on Monday against Cyprus and Pakistan.
Organizers have structured this historic maiden tournament around an action packed eight a side format, designed to showcase quick fire technical brilliance with matches played in two intense twenty minute halves. Group stage performances will ultimately determine which tier each participating country advances to when the second phase gets underway on October 28th and 29th, culminating in the highly anticipated tier finals on Friday, October 30th.
Carrying the nation’s hopes on their shoulders, the squad features a carefully selected pool of rising stars distributed across various positions. Guarding the goalposts are Victor Wisdom from Eagles Wings Academy in Abuja and Peter Linus representing HB Academy, Abuja. The defensive line is fortified by Daniel Olaomi of Eagles Wings Academy, Prosperity Anionovo from Buruj Football Academy in Lagos, Timothy Ijachi of Mavlon FC in Lagos, alongside David Okwusogu and Michael Ibironke, both representing the NFF TDS.
Controlling the rhythm in the middle of the park are Abdulsalam Muhammad of Simonben Academy in Kaduna, Martin Chukwu from the AS Roma Academy in Abuja, alongside Ayomide Jekami and Mayowa Salu, both hailing from the NFF TDS. Leading the attacking vanguard to hunt down crucial goals are Abdulrazak Mufutau of 12Alive FC in Ibadan, Wisdom Oche from Shakhandam Academy in Abuja, and Wisdom Boniface representing Adoration Academy in Enugu, all poised to make a statement on the global stage.
