Nigeria’s U-15 boys, the Future Eagles, completed their group-stage campaign unbeaten at the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The Nigerian youngsters defeated Cyprus 2-1 before playing out a 1-1 draw against Pakistan on Monday.

Against Cyprus, Wisdom Oche opened the scoring for Nigeria before captain Timothy Ogar Ijachi netted the winning goal.

Ijachi had overcome a knock sustained during Nigeria’s 3-3 draw against The Gambia on Sunday to feature in the match.

The captain continued his impressive form against Pakistan, scoring Nigeria’s equaliser in the 25th minute after the Asian side had taken the lead one minute into the second half.

The result ensured that the Future Eagles maintained their unbeaten record after their group-stage matches.

Nigeria’s performances have provided encouragement as the young team continues its campaign at the tournament, which brings together emerging talents from different parts of the world.

Unlike conventional competitions, the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival operates a no-elimination format, meaning teams are not immediately knocked out following the group stage.

The Future Eagles will await confirmation of the next tier in which they will compete as they continue their pursuit of honours in Azerbaijan.

The tournament provides an opportunity for Nigeria’s young players to gain international experience, develop their skills and test themselves against opponents from different footballing backgrounds.

Their unbeaten group-stage run will offer a confidence boost as they prepare for the next phase of the competition.