Former Nigeria youth international Joshua Daniel has urged Nigerians not to overreact to the Golden Eaglets’ 4-2 defeat to Australia at the ongoing China International Youth Football Tournament, insisting the competition is part of the team’s learning and development process.
The Golden Eaglets have endured mixed fortunes at the four-nation invitational tournament in Yinchuan, China, using the competition as preparation for the WAFU B U-17 Championship, which serves as the qualifying tournament for the 2027 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.
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Reacting to concerns following the defeat, Daniel said the results should not overshadow the long-term objective of exposing the players to high-level international football.
“There is no need to panic. This tournament is part of the learning process for these young players, and they will become better because of the experience,” Daniel said.
The former youth international pointed out that the Eaglets have already shown encouraging signs during the tournament, including their 3-2 victory over Tanzania, stressing that the coaching crew should focus on the positives while continuing to build the team.
Daniel noted that many of the players are still adapting to playing together and will improve as they spend more time as a group.
“The most important thing at this stage is the exposure. The players are still getting used to one another, and these matches will help build their confidence and understanding ahead of bigger competitions,” he added.
The China Invitational has brought together Nigeria, China, Australia and Tanzania, providing the Golden Eaglets with valuable international experience against quality opposition before their competitive assignments later in the year.
Nigeria will round off its campaign against hosts China, with the match providing another opportunity for the coaching staff to assess the squad as preparations continue for the upcoming WAFU B U-17 Championship.
