Tanzania head coach, Miguel Gamond has revealed his team's strategy for their opening match against Nigeria's Super Eagles at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.

Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Gamond emphasized that Tanzania will adopt an attacking mindset against the three-time champions.

"We are excited to participate in this AFCON, we are ready for tomorrow's game against Nigeria," Gamond said.

"It will be a very difficult, tough game but it's a very nice challenge for us. We need to work and try to neutralize Nigeria, but our mentality is to play, try to get the ball and attack as well."

By Olujimi Dare Ogun 

Nigeria’s bid to reach the semi-finals of the WAFU-B Qualifier Tournament for the African Schools U15 Football Championship came to an early end on Tuesday, despite securing a win on the final day of group action in Ouagadougou, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.

The Nigerian boys edged Benin Republic 1–0 in their second match, with Ayomide Adeleke scoring the decisive goal in the 19th minute. The victory brought Nigeria level on three points with both the Ivory Coast and Benin, but it was not enough to overturn the damage from their opening-day 4–1 defeat to Ivory Coast.

That heavy loss ultimately proved costly, as Nigeria finished third in the group on goal difference. Ivory Coast topped the standings with a +2 goal difference, followed by Benin at 0, while Nigeria ended with 2.

Ivory Coast and Benin advance to the semi-finals, while Nigeria bows out of the competition at the group stage.

Uche Dozie

Côte d’Ivoire began their campaign at the 4th African Schools Football Championship (WAFU-B Qualifiers) with an emphatic 4–1 victory over Nigeria on Monday the Stade August 4 in Ouagadougou, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.

The Ivorians took control early in the Group B opener, with N’Goran Yao Philippe scoring in the 6th minute. Diarrassouba Dramane doubled the lead in the 18th minute before Meïté Christ Loan added a third four minutes later. Konaté Mory made it 4–0 in the 34th minute to cap a dominant first-half display.

Nigeria pulled one back in the 37th minute through Peter Moses, but were unable to alter the course of the match.

The Nigerian side will now face Benin Republic in their final group fixture as they seek to revive their qualification hopes.

Uche Dozie

Morocco's U16 national team handed a 2-0 defeat to Nigeria’s Future Eagles in the first leg of their two-match international friendly series, Nigeiasoccernet.com can report.

The game, held at the Complexe Mohammed VI de Football in Morocco, highlighted the strength of the Moroccan side while exposing areas of improvement for the Nigerian team.

The Future Eagles, who arrived in Morocco earlier in the week, are participating in these friendlies as part of their preparation for upcoming international competitions, including the annual U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and FIFA U17 World Cup. Led by head coach Patrick Bassey, the team has been utilizing these games to gain valuable experience against strong opponents and to acclimate to top-tier football facilities.

Aiming for Redemption in the Second Leg

The Nigerian squad will have the opportunity to redeem themselves in the second leg of the series, scheduled for Sunday, December 15, 2024. The match is set to kick off at 5:00 PM local time at the same venue. Coach Bassey has expressed confidence in his team’s ability to adjust and deliver a better performance in the next encounter, emphasizing the importance of learning from this defeat.

FIFA Talent Development Scheme (TDS)

The friendly matches are part of FIFA’s Talent Development Scheme (TDS), an initiative to elevate the standard of national football teams globally. The TDS was created with the vision of fostering long-term talent development for both male and female players across the world.

In December 2022, FIFA allocated $200 million to fund the TDS for its 2023-2026 operational cycle. The scheme’s regulations, including funding distribution and member association obligations, were approved during the FIFA Council’s meeting in Kigali, Rwanda, on March 14, 2023. Two days later, it was subsequently presented at the FIFA Congress, where it received widespread support from attending delegates.

Nigeria’s Future in Focus

The Future Eagles’ participation in the TDS program and high-profile friendlies like these reflects Nigeria’s commitment to nurturing young talent and securing a competitive edge in international youth football. As the countdown to major tournaments begins, the lessons learned from these matches will prove invaluable in shaping the team’s strategy and performance.

Oluwayemi Omolagba

The Future Eagles, Nigeria's U15 boys’ team, have landed in Casablanca, Morocco, as part of their first-ever international exposure under the FIFA Talent Development Scheme (TDS), Nigeriasoccernet.com writes.

The squad, consisting of 22 players and six officials led by Coach Patrick Bassey, arrived early Wednesday morning, December 11, marking a significant milestone in Nigeria's youth football development efforts.

Among the players is Dominion Osaghae Ighodaro, the captain of Bendel Insurance's U15 team, who joins a promising group of talent eager to make their mark. Two high-profile friendly matches are scheduled to take place at the state-of-the-art Complexe Mohammed VI de Football on December 12 and December 15, with both matches set to kick off at 5 PM local time.

A Strategic Move to Shape Future Stars

Nasiru Jibril, the head of the delegation, emphasized the importance of this initiative in equipping young talents for future challenges. He highlighted the necessity of such exposure, especially with the introduction of annual tournaments like the U17 AFCON and FIFA World Cup.

“Playing Morocco is a strategic choice. They have a similarly structured development program, and this is a pragmatic way to prepare our boys for future continental and global competitions. The FIFA Talent Development Scheme has been pivotal in providing platforms like this to nurture raw talent,” Jibril remarked.

The matches in Morocco aim to immerse the young players in high-quality facilities and international competition. The initiative also serves as a learning exchange, with Morocco's robust football infrastructure providing an ideal backdrop for this landmark project.

The Bigger Picture

The Future Eagles’ trip is not just about the matches but also represents a broader vision of building a pipeline of talent capable of excelling on the global stage. By engaging in matches against Morocco, known for its organized youth development programs, Nigeria's young players are set to benefit from invaluable experience that could bridge the gap between grassroots and elite football.

This tour sets the tone for sustained youth development efforts that align with global best practices, reinforcing Nigeria's commitment to reclaiming its place as a powerhouse in world football.

Oluwayemi Omolagba

The Nigeria U-15 will not be participating at the UEFA U16 Development Tournament due to visa denialism by the Spanish Embassy, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.

The Future Eagles had received a special invitation for the tournament as a result of Nigeria’s pedigree in youth football.

Nigeria has won five world titles at U17 boys’ level and reached the FIFA World Cup final on two occasions at U20 level.

While Patrick Bassey’s side was meant to leave the county on Tuesday, the Nigeria Football Federation broke the news of the team being denied visa to Espana.

Nigeria was meant  to face teams like Belgium, Italy and England in the tournament.

By Olujimi Dare Ogun

Nigeria’s U-15 boys, Future Eagles, have arrived safely in Nigeria after a two-match tour in Morocco with the country's U-15 team in the city of Kenitra, reports Nigeriasoccernet.com.

The Future Eagles in their double legged friendly game against Morocco's U-15 team recorded a 7-6 aggregate score victory.

Defeat 3-2 in the first game by their host, the Nigeria U-15 national team overturned the deficit in the second game, showcasing their scoring prowess as they defeated Morocco 5-3 at the Mohammed VI Football Complex on Monday night.

They landed at Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos at 4:35 am and joined another local flight to Abuja at 7a.m this morning.

Next on the schedule for the Future Eagles is to participate in the La Liga U-15 tournament in Spain in April while they also compete at a World football festival for U-15 sponsored by FIFA. The global festival will be hosted by Argentina between June and July.

By Oluwayemi Omolagba

After falling to Morocco U-15 2-3 last week, Nigeria U-15 side Future Eagles had a sweet revenge on their North African opponent on Monday, Nigeriasoccernet.com writes.

21 Future Eagles stars under the watch of Coach Patrick Bassey and assistants Hussein Lawal and Augustine Iyamu are in Morocco defeated Morocco's U-15 team 5-3 to bring the aggregate of two-legged friendly game to 7-6.

Next on the schedule for the Future Eagles is to participate in the La Liga U-15 tournament in Spain in April while they also compete at a World football festival for U-15 sponsored by FIFA. The global festival will be hosted by Argentina between June and July.

By Oluwayemi Omolagba 

The Nigeria Minifootball Association has congratulated the newly elected president of the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF), Ibrahim Musa Gusau.

The eight years reign of Amaju Melvin Pinnick led board came to an end on 30th September, 2022 when the former Zamfara FA Chairman, Ibrahim Gusau was elected along with his Board members.

The Nigeria Minifootball Association who qualified for the World Cup slated to hold in United Arab Emirates in April, 2023 in a Press Release signed by the Secretary General of the Association, David Adewoye, reads; "The Nigeria Minifootball Association hereby congratulates Alhaji Ibrahim Musa GUSAU Led Board on their victory and election as the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Executive Members.

"There is no doubt that your intimidating credentials and anticidences in sports administration at the state,national,and International levels that earned you the victory.

It is our hope and prayers that your tenure shall be more successful than ever before most especially to develop and Support Football in Nigeria from Grassroot.

"The Nigeria Minifootball Association hereby look forward to a very good and more robust working relationship between us and your executives during your tenure."

The Nigeria MiniFootball Association, also referred to by its abbreviation, NMA is the administrative body for 5-a-side version of minifootball in Nigeria.