Chelsea, Arsenal, West Ham Talents Of Nigerian Descent Start As World Champions Lose 4-0

World champions at U17 level England surprisingly lost 4-0 to Portugal in their opening game at the 2018 Algarve Tournament on Friday.

As many as four players of Nigerian descent in the shape of West Ham defender Ajibola Alese, Arsenal pair Arthur Okonkwo and Xavier Amaechi and Chelsea midfielder Faustino Anjorin were named in the starting line-up by manager Steve Cooper, while Bukayo Saka of Arsenal was an unused substitute.

Two goals from Benfica striker Goncalo Gomes gave the Portuguese a 2-0 lead heading into the interval.

The highly-coveted Benfica wonderkid of Guinea-Bissau descent Umaro Embalo increased the hosts lead in the 69th minute before Felix Correia came off the bench to add more gloss to the scoreline on 74 minutes.

The Young Lions will face Germany in their next game on February 11 before wrapping up group play against the Netherlands two days later.

Tottenham Hotspur defender Timothy Eyoma was a member of the England U17 squad that won the World Cup in October 2017.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel


Photo Credit : thefa.com