FIFA U17: Golden Eaglets to play Hungary

GOLDEN Eaglets of Nigeria have moved from Sao Paolo to Giaonia where they will be playing their Group game at the upcoming FIFA U-17 World Cup.

  The Eaglets departed from their training camp in Sao Paulo on Tuesday and arrived the venue of their Group B games same day.

  While in Sao Paulo, the team played three friendly matches. They lost 2-1 and 1-0 to Sao Paulo U-17 side and Japan respectively, before thrashing South Korea 4-2 in the other game.

  The Manu Garba boys will begin their quests for six titles when they face Hungary in their first game on Saturday in Giaonia.

  Nigeria will take on Ecuador (at the same venue on 29th October) and Australia (in Brasilia on 1st November) in the second and third Group B games. Last Sunday, the U-17 Japan National Team played a training match against the U-17 Nigeria national team in Sao Paulo to prepare for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019.

  The training match was arranged to give Japan the opportunity to face an African side ahead of the World Cup to simulate their third group stage match against Senegal.  

  Although the match saw Japan taking the initiative in the early minutes, the first close opportunity was created by Nigeria, as a shot taken from midrange struck the cross bar of the Japanese goal. Japan responded in the 16th minute, when Fujita Joel Chima delivered a pass to Hata Taiga, who sent a cross towards the centre.

It was Toyama Shoji who connected with this delivery, but his shot went off the cross bar. With Japan picking up the pace, the opening goal came in the 22nd minute, when Nakano Keita struck a shot after receiving a cross from Hata. Japan took full control of the match following this goal, but no further goals were scored in the half, as the match entered halftime with a score of 1-0.

  The level of competition picked up in the second half, as the Nigerian side showed more intensity in their attacks, while Japan kept their composure to create opportunities through their quick ball movements. With both sides showcasing great efforts in defence, the score remained the same until the final whilstle, giving Japan the 1-0 victory.

  The U-17 Japan national team will continue to train in Sao Paulo for the next two days, before making their ways to the match site of the World Cup