Nigeria's Future Eagles have been eliminated from the 2026 FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival, losing 6-3 to Benin Republic in the Tier C Round of 16 match in Baku, Azerbaijan. Captain Timothy Ogar Ijachi scored twice, and Wisdom Boniface added a goal, but it was not enough to overcome Benin's strong performance. The defeat ended Nigeria's six-match unbeaten run in the tournament.
Ijachi continued his impressive form, scoring his 11th goal of the tournament, further solidifying his importance to the Nigerian side. He has consistently found the net throughout the competition, scoring in Nigeria's opening draw against South Sudan, and subsequent matches against Jordan, The Gambia, Cyprus, Pakistan, and New Caledonia. His two goals against Benin extended his remarkable individual run.
Benin's young Guépards capitalised on their attacking opportunities, with Noé Faton scoring twice and Kévin Nounagnon registering a hat-trick. Osias Assigbe also found the net as Benin maintained their attacking momentum in a high-scoring encounter. Nigeria's defensive setback was significant, given their previous performances during the earlier stages of the tournament.
Nigeria's exit is particularly disappointing given their encouraging start to the tournament, having gone six matches without defeat, with two victories and four draws before Wednesday's loss. They had recorded a commanding 7-0 victory over New Caledonia to progress to the Tier C Round of 16. However, they were unable to reproduce the same level of control and defensive solidity against Benin.
The defeat raises questions about the team's defensive organisation, concentration, and ability to manage pressure in knockout football. For the coaching staff, the priority will be to assess the shortcomings exposed by the defeat while building on the positives from the preceding matches. The tournament offers an opportunity to identify players capable of progressing through Nigeria's youth development pathway.
The campaign has provided valuable international experience for the young players, with Ijachi's 11-goal haul standing out as one of the most significant individual achievements. The team's seven-goal performance against New Caledonia demonstrated its attacking potential. However, the lessons from Wednesday's defensive collapse will be crucial for the players as they continue their development.
For Benin, the victory represents a major achievement and keeps their Tier C title ambitions alive as they advance to the quarter-finals. Nigeria's campaign has ended, but the performances of Ijachi and his teammates offer encouragement for the future. The Future Eagles will look to build on the positives from the tournament and improve their defensive weaknesses.
Key points
- Nigeria's Future Eagles lost 6-3 to Benin Republic in the Round of 16.
- Captain Timothy Ogar Ijachi scored 11 goals in the tournament.
- Benin's victory keeps their Tier C title ambitions alive.
