Nigeria’s U-17 national team, the Golden Eaglets, have departed for China on Thursday night ahead of the 2026 China International Youth Football Tournament scheduled to hold in Yinchuan from July 5 to 11.

The five-time world champions will compete against hosts China, Australia and Tanzania in the four-nation competition, with all matches billed for the Yinchuan Sports Centre Helanshan Stadium.

The tournament is being hosted by the Chinese Football Association alongside 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, with promotion handled by the China Football Industry Development Corporation.

Head coach Uwejamomere Eboboritse will lead a 20-man squad to the tournament, assisted by Kalli Mohammed Kachalla and Abdullahi Isa.

The competition forms part of the Golden Eaglets’ preparations for the 2026 WAFU B U-17 Championship, which will serve as the qualifying tournament for the 2027 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations. The regional championship is expected to take place in September.