The Golden Eaglets of Nigeria lost 1-0 to Japan in their last preparatory match ahead of the FIFA U17 World Cup which kicks off on October 26 in Brazil.

Wakatsuki Yamato scored what proved to be the winner for the Japanese U17 team in the 22nd minute in the game played at the Sao Paulo Football Club ground in Coita, Sao Paulo on Sunday.

Manu Garba’s wards showed a lot of enterprise and fought hard to restore parity with the trio of Olakunle Olusegun, Wisdom Ubani and Ibrahim Jabeer particularly impressive but Japan held firm to claim the victory.

Nigeria’s U17 team have now lost two of three warmup matches in the lead up to the tournament having suffered a 2-1 loss to Sao Paulo FC before registering a 4-2 win over South Korea.

The Golden Eaglets have been drawn with Hungary, Ecuador and Australia in Group B. They kickstart their campaign on 26 October against Hungary at the Goiania Estadio Olimpico.

Nigeria are record winners of the FIFA U17 World Cup having triumphed on five occasions in 1985, 1993, 2007, 2013 and most recently in 2015.

The Golden Eaglets are returning to the 24-nation tournament after missing the last edition in 2017 which was held in India and won by England.

Nigeria Squad To The 2019 U17 World Cup

Goalkeepers: Sunday Stephen, Joseph Oluwabusola, Daniel Jinadu

Defenders: Usman Ibrahim, Clement Ikenna, Charles Etim, Quadri Edun, Oluwatimilehen Adeniyi

Midfielders: Samson Tijani (Captain), Francis Daniel, Akinkunmi Amoo, Peter Agba, Ibraheem Jabaar, Monsuru Opeyemi, Ojederan Hamzat, Sa’id Ibrahim

Strikers: Wisdom Ubani, Olakunle Olusegun, Devine Nwachukwu, Olawale Peter, Abba Bichi