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Nigeria national under-17 football team

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For the women's team, see Nigeria women's national under-17 football team.

Nigeria Under-17
Nickname(s)Golden Eaglets
AssociationNigeria Football Association
ConfederationCAF (Africa)
Sub-confederationWAFU (West Africa)
Head coachFatai Amoo[1]
Home stadiumAbuja Stadium
FIFA codeNGA
First colours
Second colours
Biggest defeat
 France 3–0 Nigeria 
(Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago; 30 September 2001)
 Benin 3–0 Nigeria 
(Porto-Novo, Benin; , 2009)
FIFA U-17 World Cup
Appearances12 (first in 1985)
Best resultChampions (1985, 1993, 2007, 2013, 2015)
Africa U-17 Cup of Nations
Appearances8 (first in 1995)
Best resultChampions (2001, 2007)

The Nigeria national U-17 football team known as the Golden Eaglets, is the youngest team that represents Nigeria in football[2] The team is the most successful in international football for their age group winning a record, five FIFA U-17 World Cup titles and are runners up on three occasions. They are also two-time Africa U-17 Cup of Nations champions with their most recent title at the 2007 edition.[3]

History

The team won the maiden edition of FIFA U-17 World Cup in 1985 hosted by China, 1993, 2007, 2013, and 2015 (becoming only the second team since Brazil to win it back to back); making them the first team ever to win the junior world cup five times.[4] They also won the African Under-17 Championship in 2001 and 2007, and were runners-up in 1995 and 2013.

After the 2007 victory there was some discussion as to whether the success should be rewarded in the form of cash, or if longer-term investments were more suitable for teenage players. It was pointed out that some previous players had found themselves reduced to poverty due to injury or mismanagement of their funds.[4]

Heading into the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup, head coach Henry Nwosu was replaced by John Obuh, coach of Kwara United.[5]

Although Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup, they participated again in the 2013 edition of the tournament. Planning was thrown into disarray however in August when key members of the team was determined by MRI scanning to be overage and excluded from the team.[6] In their first match, the team defeated the defending champions Mexico with a 6–1 score. They only failed to defeat Sweden in the group stage, but they did so in the semi-finals. In the final match they faced and defeated Mexico for a second time, obtaining their fourth U-17 World Cup and becoming the national team to win the most U-17 tournaments so far.

The team were again the subject of age cheating accusations when, a total of 26 players from the 60-strong squad were sent home from their training camp in 2016 after failing compulsory MRI scans used to test age ahead of an African Cup of Nations qualifier.[7] It is important to note that amidst all the age cheating accusations, the team has never been found guilty of fielding overage players in any competition. All the players accused of being overage were all caught at the Abuja training camp and sent home before they played any game for the team.[6][7]

Competitive record

A gold background colour indicates that Nigeria won the tournament.

*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

Team honours and achievements

Intercontinental

Continental

Others

Staff

Management

  • Team Coordinator: Suleiman Abubakar
  • Secretary: Egbaiyelo Tayo
  • Media Coordinator: Morakinyo Abodunrin

Sports

Medical

  • Doctor: Olarinoye Ayodeji
  • Physiotherapist: Oyegunna Gabriel
  • Equipment Manager: Mohammed Kafa Usman

Squad

Nigeria callups for the 2023 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations qualification[8]

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Club
1 1GK Richard Odoh Nigeria
20 1GK Hameed Balogun Nigeria
16 1GK Pascal Uzoho Nigeria
6 2DF Jeremiah Olaleke Nigeria
3 2DF Emmanuel Michael Nigeria
5 2DF Tochukwu Ogboji Nigeria
2 2DF Yahaya Lawal Nigeria
15 2DF Miracle Ogwor Nigeria
4 3MF Basil Mbata Nigeria
17 3MF Ebube Okere Nigeria
18 3MF Tochukwu Ogbabido Nigeria
14 3MF Richard Uche Nigeria
10 3MF Ozor Okeke Nigeria
12 3MF Raphael Oyebanjo Nigeria
7 4FW Umar Abubakar Nigeria
9 4FW Kevwe Iyede Nigeria
19 4FW Light Eke Nigeria
8 4FW Abubakar Abdullahi Nigeria
13 4FW Jubril Azeez Nigeria
11 4FW Precious Williams Nigeria

Notable former players

   

See also

References

  1. ^ "Fatai Amoo replaces Manu Garba as Eaglets coach". Score Nigeria. 23 September 2020.
  2. ^ "Fifa U17 World Cup: Champions Nigeria must avoid stereotypes in modern age | The National". Thenational.ae. 9 November 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  3. ^ "Golden Eaglets miss out on 3rd U17 AFCON title with lots of work to do". May 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Nigeria: Golden Eaglets - Return of the Argonauts". Archived from the original on 6 April 2012.
  5. ^ Egbokhan, John (13 August 2009). "Nwosu predicts doom for Eaglets". Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  6. ^ a b Okeleji, Oluwashina (19 August 2013). "Nigeria U-17 players fail age tests ahead of the World Cup". BBC. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  7. ^ a b "Nigeria's under-17 squad wiped out as half are older than 17". Independent Uk. 5 August 2016. Archived from the original on 20 June 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  8. ^ Golden Eaglets name final squad for U17 Qualifiers
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