Nigeria Future Eagles Draw 3-3 with The Gambia to Record Third Draw at 2026 FIFA U-15 World Cup
Timothy Ijach scored twice and Abdulrazak Mufutau added a goal as Nigeria drew 3-3 with The Gambia, ahead of Monday’s matches against Cyprus and Pakistan.
Nigeria’s Future Eagles drew 3-3 with The Gambia in their third match at the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The Nigerian side took an early two-goal lead but had to come from behind to secure a point after an entertaining six-goal encounter.
Abdulrazak Mufutau opened the scoring in the third minute before captain Timothy Ijach doubled Nigeria’s advantage in the seventh minute.
The Gambia responded through Essa Jallow in the 13th minute to reduce the deficit to 2-1.
Sanna Sanneh equalised for The Gambia in the 22nd minute, while Jallow scored his second goal in the 32nd minute to give the Gambians a 3-2 lead.
However, Ijach struck again in the 40th minute to complete his brace and rescue a draw for Nigeria.
The result means the Future Eagles have recorded three consecutive draws in the competition, following their 3-3 draw with South Sudan and 2-2 draw with Jordan.
Nigeria vs The Gambia: Goal Scorers
3' Abdulrazak Mufutau (Nigeria)
7' Timothy Ijach (Nigeria)
13' Essa Jallow (The Gambia)
22' Sanna Sanneh (The Gambia)
32' Essa Jallow (The Gambia)
40' Timothy Ijach (Nigeria)
Group AD Standings
South Sudan: 7 pts (GD: +2)
Cyprus: 7 pts (GD: +5)
The Gambia: 5 pts (GD: +2)
Nigeria: 3 pts (GD: 0)
Jordan: 1 pt (GD: -2)
Pakistan: 0 pts (GD: -7)
Nigeria sit fourth in Group AD with three points from three matches, having scored eight goals and conceded eight.
Nigeria’s Next Match
Nigeria’s Future Eagles are scheduled to face Cyprus on Monday, 26 October 2026, at 8:30 a.m. West Africa Time (WAT). They are also scheduled to play Pakistan at 3:15 p.m. WAT on the same day.
About the FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival
The inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival is taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 22 to 31 October 2026.
The competition features an eight-a-side format, with matches played over two 20-minute halves. All teams continue beyond the initial group qualification stage, with their final group positions determining their tiers for the next phase.
Enjoyed this story?
Reporting like this is funded by readers. A one-off gift keeps it coming.
Keep reading
Inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup: Spain Win Title as Nigeria Finish 76th, Russia Score 69 Goals
Spain were crowned champions of the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup after beating Czech Republic 3-0 in the final. Russia scored a tournament-high 69 goals, Belarus conceded the fewest, and Nigeria’s Future Eagles finished 76th after a campaign of draws and mixed results.
Nigeria Future Eagles Finish 76th at 2026 FIFA U-15 World Cup After Defeat to Panama, Record 2 Wins, 6 Draws and 2 Losses
Nigeria’s Future Eagles ended their 2026 FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival campaign in 76th place after a 2-1 defeat to Panama. The team recorded two wins, four draws and three defeats across nine matches, including a 7-0 victory over New Caledonia and penalty-shootout success against Rwanda.
Nigeria Future Eagles vs Panama: 75th-Place Match Preview and How to Watch Live | 2026 FIFA U-15 World Cup
Nigeria’s Future Eagles face Panama in the 75th-place match at the 2026 FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival on Friday, 30 October. After finishing third in Group AD, exiting Tier C in the Round of 16 and losing to Chile on penalties, Nigeria will aim to end their campaign with a victory in Baku, Azerbaijan.