Nigeria national under-17 football team

Nigeria U-17

Nickname(s)	Golden Eaglets
Association	Nigeria Football Association
Confederation	CAF (Africa)
Head coach	Emmanuel Amuneke[1]
Captain	Kelechi Nwakali
Home stadium	Abuja Stadium
FIFA code	NGA
First colours Second colours
African U-17 Championship
Appearances	6 (First in 1995)
Best result	Winner, 2001, 2007
FIFA U-17 World Cup
Appearances	6 (First in 1985)
Best result	Winner, 1985, 1993, 2007, 2013

The Golden Eaglets are Nigeria's national under-17 football team.^[2]

History

The team won the maiden edition of FIFA U-17 World Cup in 1985 at China, the 1985 Edition tournament was sponsored by Kodak (when it was known as the U-16 tournament), 1993, 2007 and 2013; making them the first team ever to win the junior world cup four times.^[3] They also won the African Under-17 Championship in 2001 and 2007, and were runners-up in 1995.

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.^[3]

Heading into the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup, head coach Henry Nwosu was replaced by John Obuh, coach of Kwara United. In 2011^[4] planning was thrown into disarray however in August when over half the team was determined by bone scanning to be overage and excluded from the team.^[5]

Although Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup, they participated again in the 2013 edition of the tournament. 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.

Honours

African U-17 Championship

• Winners (2): 2001, 2007
• Runners-up (2): 1995, 2013
• Third (1): 2003

FIFA U-17 World Cup

• Winners (4): 1985, 1993, 2007, 2013
• Runners-up (3): 1987, 2001, 2009

Competitive record

A gold background color indicates that Nigeria won the tournament.

FIFA U-17 World Cup record
Year	Round	Position	GP	W	D*	L	GS	GA
1985	Champions	1st	6	5	1	0	10	2
1987	Runners-up	2nd	6	3	2	1	7	5
1989	Quarter-Finals	6th	4	2	2	0	7	0
1991	Did Not Qualify
1993	Champions	1st	6	6	0	0	20	3
1995	Quarter-Finals	7th	4	2	1	1	6	4
1997	Did Not Qualify
1999
2001	Runners-up	2nd	6	5	0	1	14	5
2003	Group Stage	11th	3	1	1	1	3	3
2005	Did Not Qualify
2007	Champions	1st	7	6	1	0	16	4
2009	Runners-up	2nd	7	5	1	1	17	7
2011	Did Not Qualify
2013	Champions	1st	7	6	1	0	26	5
2015	Qualified
Total	10/15	4 Titles	56	41	10	5	126	38

*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

Staff

Management

• Team Coordinator: prince udofia
• Secretary: Egbaiyelo Tayo
• Media Coordinator: Morakinyo Abodunrin

Sports

• Head Coach: Emmanuel Amuneke
• Assistant Coach: kabiru baleria ^[6]
• Goalkeeper Coach: Emeka Amadi^[6]

Medical

• Doctor: Olarinoye Ayodeji
• Physiotherpist:aliu abubakar
• Equipment Manager:idris adamu

Current Squad

List of players named for the 2015 African U-17 Championship^[7] Caps/goals as of 15 Fe. 2014

0#0 Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club 16 1GK Akpan David Udoh (1999-07-18) 18 July 1999 4 21 1GK Emeka Nwokoecha (1998-08-02) 2 August 1998 1 1GK Amos Innocent Benjamin (1998-12-22) 22 December 1998 1 0 2 2DF Lazarus John (1998-06-06) 6 June 1998 3 2DF Usman Abass (1998-07-10) 10 July 1998 4 2DF Saddam Awal (1998-11-24) 24 November 1998 5 2DF Chibueze Sunday Kanu (1998-09-14) 14 September 1998 15 2DF Bamidele Samuel Ayodeji (1998-09-03) 3 September 1998 18 2DF Zakari Lukman Hilaru (1998-12-23) 23 December 1998 7 3MF Suleiman Abdullahi (1998-03-22) 22 March 1998 6 3MF Michael Dogo Kingsley (1999-08-26) 26 August 1999 20 3MF Ikechukwu Okechukwu Leonard (1998-10-07) 7 October 1998 3 2 Warri Wolves 10 3MF Kelechi Nwakali (1998-06-05) 5 June 1998 2 8 4FW Orji Okwonkwo (1998-01-19) 19 January 1998 11 4FW Christian Charles (1998-02-20) 20 February 1998 19 4FW Suleiman Muhammed (2000-02-15) 15 February 2000 17 4FW Christian Ebere (1998-04-04) 4 April 1998 2 9 4FW Victor Osimhen (1998-12-29) 29 December 1998 4 14 4FW Nazifi Yahaya (2000-12-16) 16 December 2000

Other Players

Players used for 2015 Under-17 Championship qualification

0#0 Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Adeyemi Adeyinka (1998-05-06) 6 May 1998 Dayo Femi (1998-04-15) 15 April 1998 2DF Mohammed Anas (1998-06-19) 19 June 1998 4 0 3MF Promise Orji (1998-12-28) 28 December 1998 Douglas Uzama (1998-12-07) 7 December 1998 Jack Ipalibo (1998-04-06) 6 April 1998 2 0 Henry Okebugwu (1998-06-19) 19 June 1998 Nuhu Umar (1998-12-20) 20 December 1998 4FW Kehinde Ayinde (1998-04-02) 2 April 1998 4 3 Ernest Agenor (1998-04-15) 15 April 1998

Notable former players

• Macauley Chrisantus
• John Obi Mikel
• Victor Igbinoba
• Lucky Agbonsevafe
• Philip Osondu

See also

• Super Eagles (Nigeria national football team)
• Flying Eagles (Nigeria national under-20 football team)
• African U-17 Championship

References

External links

• Official website of the Nigerian Football Federation