FIFA U17 World Cup: ‘Nigerians’ Nwaneri and Oboavwoduo are among players to watch in Indonesia

The Golden Eaglets, the most successfull team in the history of the FIFA World Cup with five titles, are not among the 24 teams that are in Indonesia for the
cadet competition which begins on Friday but Nigerians will be following, keenly, one of their own who will be on parade for England.

Arsenal’s Ethan Chidiebere Nwaneri may have been born in England but the 16 year old has Nigerian blood flowing in his veins and Nigerians will be rooting
for him and England who are seeking to reclaim the title they won in 2017.

Nwaneri made his Premier League debut against Brentford in September 2022, becoming the youngest ever Arsenal player, and the youngest player to appear in
the top flight of English football aged just 15.

With electric dribbling and superb ball-striking ability, he’s been a star player throughout the Gunners youth ranks and has scored five goals in six games
from attacking midfield for the Arsenal U21 team this season.

He hasn’t featured for Arsenal since that Brentford game, but he will be one to watch in this Under 17 World Cup and will be hoping to catch Arteta’s eye.

Nigerians will also keep their eyes on him and Justin Oboavwoduo, another player of Nigerian descent who will be playing for England at the competition.

Oboavwoduo, 16, according to Manchester Evning News has made a habit of scoring goals and has transferred that to the international stage with England Under-17s.

The Manchester City starlet is also one of the players Nigerians will fix their eyes on as the competition progresses.