EDDIE Howe has urged Nnamdi Ofoborh to “soak it all up” as he prepares to compete in the FIFA under-20 World Cup.

The Cherries midfielder is part of the Nigeria squad which get their campaign underway against Qatar this afternoon (5.30pm).

The tournament is being held in Poland with group games against USA and Ukraine following the clash with Qatar for Paul Aigbogun’s Super Eagles.

Ofoborh, 19, is not the first Cherries midfielder to participate in this event. Lewis Cook captained the England side which won the under-20 World Cup in 2017, but the holders are not involved this time around, failing to qualify after losing a play-off 3-0 against Norway.

Whilst Ofoborh is yet to make his senior Cherries debut, he did regularly train with the first team in recent months and was named on the bench for the Premier League matches against Fulham and Tottenham.

And Howe says the competition will only benefit the teenager’s development.

The Cherries boss told the Daily Echo: “It’s brilliant for him.

“It’s a great experience for him to be involved with his country and to be mixing with the players that he will be.

“He’s an unbelievable lad. Someone that I really, really want to do well.

“He’s got an infectious character, he’s someone that is determined to learn and every day he’s staying out with the coaches to improve his game.

“Hopefully it’s going to go well for him.”

He added: “It’s a chance to get to know himself better in a real pressure environment.

“Being exposed at that level with the players he’ll be playing with can only be good for him.

“My only message to him would be to soak it all up and to try and remember every experience he goes through.”

Ofoborh is coming to the end of his third year with Cherries having previously spent time in the academies of Tottenham Hotspur and Millwall.

As well as training with the first team, Ofoborh also played a big role in the successful season for the club’s under-21s.

The midfielder captained Shaun Cooper’s side for much of the season, including to victory in the Central League Cup final against Notts County.

And Howe says his hard-working approach is encouraging.

Asked what excites him most about Ofoborh, Howe said: “Probably more his attitude.

“He’s someone who is staying behind after training every day to learn and adapt his game in the ways that he knows he needs to.

“Then you add the player to that.

“He’s got a lovely frame, lovely physicality about him and he’s technically good.

“I think the biggest challenge for Nnamdi is trying to hone down on one position, where he will play.

“I think he’s been a central midfielder for most of his journey with us.

“Whether that changes in the future, where we see him playing is still slightly unknown.”