Nigeria national under-17 football team
Nickname(s) | Golden Eaglets | ||
---|---|---|---|
Association | Nigeria Football Association | ||
Confederation | CAF (Africa) | ||
Sub-confederation | WAFU (West Africa) | ||
Head coach | Manu Garba | ||
Home stadium | Abuja Stadium | ||
FIFA code | NGA | ||
| |||
Biggest defeat | |||
![]() ![]() (Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago; 30 September 2001) ![]() ![]() (Porto-Novo, Benin; , 2009) | |||
FIFA U-17 World Cup | |||
Appearances | 12 (first in 1985) | ||
Best result | Champions (1985, 1993, 2007, 2013, 2015) | ||
Africa U-17 Cup of Nations | |||
Appearances | 10 (first in 1995) | ||
Best result | Champions (2001, 2007) |
The Nigeria national U-17 football team, known as the Golden Eaglets, is the youngest team that represents Nigeria in football.[1] The team is the most successful in international football for their age group, winning a record five FIFA U-17 World Cup titles[2] and have been 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
[edit]The team won the maiden edition of FIFA U-17 World Cup in 1985 hosted by China, as well as the 1993, 2007, 2013, and 2015 editions (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 World Cup 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 defeated Mexico for a second time, obtaining their fourth U-17 World Cup[7] and becoming the national team to win the most U-17 tournaments as at 2023.
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 determine age ahead of an African Cup of Nations qualifier.[8] 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 caught at the Abuja training camp and sent home before they played any game for the team.[6][8]
Competitive record
[edit] FIFA U-17 World Cup record[edit]
| Africa U-17 Cup of Nations record[edit]
|
A gold background colour indicates that Nigeria won the tournament.
*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
Team honours and achievements
[edit]Intercontinental
Continental
Others
- UEFA–CAF Meridian Cup
- Winners: 1997
Staff
[edit]Management
[edit]- Team Coordinator: Suleiman Abubakar
- Secretary: Egbaiyelo Tayo
- Media Coordinator: Morakinyo Abodunrin
Sports
[edit]- Head coach: Nduka Ugbade
- Assistant coach:
- Assistant coach:
- Scout:
- Goalkeeper coach:
Medical
[edit]- Doctor: Olarinoye Ayodeji
- Physiotherapist: Oyegunna Gabriel
- Equipment Manager: Mohammed Kafa Usman
Current squad
[edit]The following players were named in the squad for the 2023 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations between 29 April – 19 May.[9]
Caps and goals are correct as of 1 May 2023, after the match against Mali.
No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | GK | Richard Odoh | 23 November 2006 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
16 | GK | Temiloluwa Adelakin | 12 June 2006 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
23 | GK | Gift Adie | 7 February 2007 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
2 | DF | Yahaya Lawali | 6 June 2006 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
3 | DF | Emmanuel Michael | 16 June 2006 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
5 | DF | Joseph Ogboji | 15 December 2006 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
6 | DF | Jeremiah Olaleke | 20 February 2006 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
15 | DF | Israel Usulor | 20 June 2007 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
21 | DF | Chijoke Linus | 31 July 2006 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
22 | DF | Quadri Adewale | 7 September 2007 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
4 | MF | Haruna Abdullahi | 1 January 2007 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
7 | MF | Umar Abubakar | 15 February 2006 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
10 | MF | Ifeoluwa Olowoporoku | 15 July 2008 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
12 | MF | Hope Linus | 10 August 2006 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
14 | MF | Isaac Aondoakaa | 28 August 2007 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
17 | MF | Simon Cletus | 10 February 2008 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
24 | MF | Musa Akinfenwa | 4 September 2007 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
25 | MF | Usman Owoyemi | 21 August 2006 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
26 | MF | Matthew Kingsley | 26 November 2006 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
8 | FW | Abubakar Abdullahi | 27 January 2006 | 3 | 1 | ![]() |
9 | FW | Precious Williams | 2 October 2006 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
11 | FW | Charles Agada | 3 September 2006 | 3 | 1 | ![]() |
13 | FW | Jubril Azeez | 8 September 2006 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
18 | FW | Simeon Ogbadibo | 20 June 2007 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
19 | FW | Light Eke | 14 April 2006 | 3 | 1 | ![]() |
20 | FW | Favour Daniel | 12 March 2006 | 2 | 1 | ![]() |
Notable former players
[edit]See also
[edit]- Super Eagles (Nigeria national football team)
- Flying Eagles (Nigeria national under-20 football team)
- African U-17 Championship
References
[edit]- ^ "Fifa U17 World Cup: Champions Nigeria must avoid stereotypes in modern age | The National". Thenational.ae. 9 November 2013. Archived from the original on 21 January 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
- ^ "Which team won the FIFA U-17 World Cup the most times?". FIFA. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "Golden Eaglets miss out on 3rd U17 AFCON title with lots of work to do". May 2019. Archived from the original on 2 May 2019. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
- ^ a b "Nigeria: Golden Eaglets - Return of the Argonauts". Archived from the original on 6 April 2012.
- ^ Egbokhan, John (13 August 2009). "Nwosu predicts doom for Eaglets". Archived from the original on 15 October 2017. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
- ^ a b Okeleji, Oluwashina (19 August 2013). "Nigeria U-17 players fail age tests ahead of the World Cup". BBC. Archived from the original on 5 April 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
- ^ "Golden Eaglets are world champions: Nigeria U17 defeats Mexico 3- 0". afripol.org. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Nigeria Squad List" (PDF). Confederation of African Football. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 April 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.