Nigeria Future Eagles Lose to Chile on Penalties, to Fight for 75th Place at 2026 FIFA U-15 World Cup

Nigeria’s Future Eagles have lost their second match in the classification phase of the 2026 FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival, falling to Chile on penalties after a 3-3 draw on Thursday, 29 October.

The defeat means Nigeria will now face Panama in the match for 75th place on Friday, 30 October, at the Hovsan Competition Complex in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The Future Eagles had advanced to the classification semi-final after drawing 1-1 with Rwanda and winning 4-3 in the penalty shootout. However, they could not overcome Chile, who won the latest shootout 3-2 after both teams finished regular time level at three goals apiece.

Nigeria’s Results at the 2026 FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival

Group AD

Nigeria finished the group stage with seven points from five matches, recording one win and four draws. The team scored 11 goals and conceded 10, finishing third in Group AD.

• Nigeria 3-3 South Sudan

• Jordan 2-2 Nigeria

• Nigeria 3-3 The Gambia

• Cyprus 1-2 Nigeria

• Pakistan 1-1 Nigeria

Tier C

After finishing third in Group AD, Nigeria continued in Tier C, the classification pathway for teams outside the higher placement contests.

• Round of 32: Nigeria 7-0 New Caledonia

• Round of 16: Nigeria 3-6 Benin

Nigeria’s 7-0 victory over New Caledonia featured four goals from Timothy Ijach, who scored in the 12th, 16th, 35th and 40th minutes. Wisdom Oche, Abdulsalam Muhammad and Mayowa Salu also scored.

The Future Eagles’ Tier C title pursuit ended in the Round of 16 after a 6-3 defeat to Benin. Ijach scored twice, while Wisdom Boniface added Nigeria’s other goal.

Classification Matches

Following their exit from the Tier C title contest, Nigeria moved into the lower-place classification matches.

• 73rd–76th-place classification match: Nigeria 1-1 Rwanda. Nigeria won 4-3 on penalties.

• 73rd–76th-place semi-final: Chile 3-3 Nigeria. Chile won 3-2 on penalties.

Against Rwanda, Wisdom Boniface scored Nigeria’s goal with a free-kick in the 26th minute before Rwanda equalised in the 39th minute. Nigeria then won the shootout 4-3 to advance.

The match against Chile also ended level after regular time, but this time Nigeria lost the penalty shootout 3-2. The result sends the Future Eagles into the match for 75th place.

Nigeria vs Panama: Next Match Details

Nigeria will have another opportunity to end the tournament on a positive note when they face Panama on Friday.

Fixture: Nigeria U-15 vs Panama U-15
Competition: FIFA U-15 Youth World Cup & Festival 2026™
Match: 75th-place classification match
Date: Friday, 30 October 2026
Kick-off: 8:30 am Nigerian time
Venue: Hovsan Pitch 7B, Hovsan Competition Complex, Baku, Azerbaijan

The Future Eagles will be aiming to respond to the defeat against Chile and close their campaign with a win