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Nigeria national under-17 football team

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by OmoYoruba45 (talk | contribs) at 04:43, 19 September 2019 (→‎FIFA U-17 World Cup record). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

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

Nigeria Under-17
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Golden Eaglets
AssociationNigeria Football Association
ConfederationCAF (Africa)
Sub-confederationWAFU (West Africa)
Head coachManu Garba
CaptainSamson Tijani
Home stadiumAbuja Stadium
FIFA codeNGA
First colours
Second colours
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[1] The team is the most successful in international football for their age group winning a record, five FIFA U-17 World Cup titiles and are runners up on three different occasions. They are also two-time Africa U-17 Cup of Nations champions with their most recent title at the 2007 edition.[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, 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.[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.[4]

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.[5] 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.[6] 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.[7][8]

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

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

Current squad

List of players named for the 2019 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations[10]

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
21 1GK Joseph Oluwabusola (2003-01-01) 1 January 2003 (age 21) England free agent
1 1GK Sunday Stephen (2002-09-20) 20 September 2002 (age 22) Nigeria Abuja Football College
16 1GK Suleman Shaibu (2002-11-28) 28 November 2002 (age 21) Nigeria Hofafa FC
2 2DF Shedrack Tanko (2003-06-23) 23 June 2003 (age 21) Nigeria Ambassadors FC
5 2DF Clement Ikenna (2003-03-16) 16 March 2003 (age 21) Nigeria A&B Academy
6 2DF David Ishaya (2002-10-10) 10 October 2002 (age 22) Nigeria Abuja Football College
15 2DF Charles Etim (2003-10-10) 10 October 2003 (age 21) Nigeria Blessed Stars Football Academy
3 3MF David Oduko (2002-08-11) 11 August 2002 (age 22) Nigeria Fresh Talent FC
4 3MF Samson Tijani (2002-05-17) 17 May 2002 (age 22) Nigeria
11 3MF Mubaraq Adeshina (2002-01-30) 30 January 2002 (age 22) Nigeria ABS F.C.
12 3MF Shuaibo Abdulrazaq (2003-11-10) 10 November 2003 (age 20) Nigeria Oma FC
13 3MF Akinkunmi Amoo (2002-06-07) 7 June 2002 (age 22) Nigeria Sidos FC
14 3MF Olatomi Olaniyan (2002-02-05) 5 February 2002 (age 22) Nigeria
17 3MF Peter Agba (2002-12-20) 20 December 2002 (age 21) Nigeria Falala Academy
19 3MF Ibraheem Jabaar (2002-10-24) 24 October 2002 (age 21) Nigeria Olisa FC
20 3MF Fawaz Abdullahi (2003-05-04) 4 May 2003 (age 21) Nigeria B Angels FC
7 4FW Olakunle Olusegun Jr. (2002-04-23) 23 April 2002 (age 22) Nigeria ABS F.C.
8 4FW Mayowa Abayomi (2002-08-24) 24 August 2002 (age 22) Nigeria Oasis FC
9 4FW Wisdom Ubani (2003-05-16) 16 May 2003 (age 21) Nigeria Giant Brillars FC
10 4FW Adrian Akande (2003-10-22) 22 October 2003 (age 20) England Chelsea
18 4FW Divine Nwachukwu (2003-05-25) 25 May 2003 (age 21) Nigeria Rivertime FC
23 4FW Lateef Omidiji Jr. (2003-09-12) 12 September 2003 (age 21) Netherlands Go Ahead Eagles

Previous squad

List of players named for the 2019 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations qualification:[11]

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK John Amah (2002-11-21) 21 November 2002 (age 21) Nigeria
16 1GK John Essien (2004-12-25) 25 December 2004 (age 19) Nigeria
3 2DF Sunday Odey (2002-06-16) 16 June 2002 (age 22) Nigeria
12 2DF Muhammad Ibrahim (2002-12-15) 15 December 2002 (age 21) Nigeria
15 2DF Adam Mustapha (2002-11-16) 16 November 2002 (age 21) Nigeria
2DF Sani Suleiman Nigeria
3MF Tunde Akinsola (2003-03-10) 10 March 2003 (age 21) Nigeria
10 3MF Hassan Hussain (2002-11-21) 21 November 2002 (age 21) Nigeria El Kanemi Warriors
9 4FW Timilehin Adeniyi (2003-05-12) 12 May 2003 (age 21) 1 Nigeria IB SPORTS DREAMS FC
3MF Saviour Isaac Nigeria
23 4FW Lateef Omidiji Jr. (2003-09-12) 12 September 2003 (age 21) Netherlands Go Ahead Eagles

Notable former players

   

See also

References

  1. ^ "Fifa U17 World Cup: Champions Nigeria must avoid stereotypes in modern age | The National". Thenational.ae. 9 November 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  2. ^ https://www.pulse.ng/sports/football/golden-eaglets-miss-out-on-3rd-u17-afcon-title-with-lots-of-work-to-do/xtnqz61
  3. ^ a b "Nigeria: Golden Eaglets - Return of the Argonauts". Archived from the original on 6 April 2012.
  4. ^ Egbokhan, John (13 August 2009). "Nwosu predicts doom for Eaglets". Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  5. ^ Okeleji, Oluwashina (19 August 2013). "Nigeria U-17 players fail age tests ahead of the World Cup". BBC. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  6. ^ "Nigeria's under-17 squad wiped out as half are older than 17". Independent Uk. 5 August 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  7. ^ Okeleji, Oluwashina (19 August 2013). "Nigeria U-17 players fail age tests ahead of the World Cup". BBC. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  8. ^ "Nigeria's under-17 squad wiped out as half are older than 17". Independent Uk. 5 August 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  9. ^ a b c d "Jonathan splashes cash on Golden Eaglets". Premiumtimesng.com. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  10. ^ Team List African Cup of Nations
  11. ^ https://www.pulse.ng/sports/football/golden-eaglets-squad-and-fixtures-for-wafu-zone-b-u-17-afcon-id8800692.html
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