Nigeria national under-17 football team

Nigeria Under-17
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
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
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

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

FIFA U-17 World Cup record

FIFA U-17 World Cup record
Year	Round	Position	GP	W	D*	L	GS	GA
1985	Champions	1st	6	4	2	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	did not qualify
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	Champions	1st	7	6	0	1	23	5
2017	did not qualify
2019	Round of 16	15th	4	2	0	2	9	9
2023	did not qualify
2025	did not qualify
Total	12/20	5 Titles	67	48	11	8	149	43

U-17 Africa Cup of Nations record

U-17 Africa Cup of Nations
Year	Round	Position	GP	W	D*	L	GS	GA
1995	Runners-up	2nd	5	4	0	1	13	5
1997	did not qualify
1999	Group stage	6th	3	1	1	1	5	5
2001	Champions	1st	5	3	2	0	13	4
2003	Third place	3rd	5	4	0	1	9	2
2005	Group stage	6th	3	1	1	1	8	6
2007	Champions	1st	5	5	0	0	15	1
2009	did not qualify
2011	did not qualify
2013	Runners-up	2nd	5	3	1	1	18	5
2015	Fourth place	4th	5	2	1	2	7	6
2017	did not qualify
2019	Fourth place	4th	2	2	1	2	5	9
2023	Quarter-finals	-	4	2	0	2	5	5
2025	Did not qualify
Total	10/15	2 titles	45	27	7	11	98	58

A gold background colour indicates that Nigeria won the tournament.

*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

Team honours and achievements

Intercontinental

FIFA U-17 World Cup
- Winners: 1985, 1993, 2007, 2013, 2015
- Runners-up: 1987, 2001, 2009

Continental

Africa U-17 Cup of Nations
- Winners: 2001, 2007
- Runners-up: 1995, 2013
- Third-place: 2003

Others

UEFA–CAF Meridian Cup
- Winners: 1997

Staff

Management

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

Sports

Head coach: Nduka Ugbade
Assistant coach:
Assistant coach:
Scout:
Goalkeeper coach:

Medical

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

Current squad

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	1GK	Richard Odoh	(2006-11-23) 23 November 2006 (age 17)	3	0	HB Abuja
16	1GK	Temiloluwa Adelakin	(2006-06-12) 12 June 2006 (age 18)	0	0	Box2Box
23	1GK	Gift Adie	(2007-02-07) 7 February 2007 (age 17)	0	0	Paul E

2	2DF	Yahaya Lawali	(2006-06-06) 6 June 2006 (age 18)	3	0	Mahanaim
3	2DF	Emmanuel Michael	(2006-06-16) 16 June 2006 (age 18)	3	0	Simon Ben
5	2DF	Joseph Ogboji	(2006-12-15) 15 December 2006 (age 17)	3	0	Purple Crown
6	2DF	Jeremiah Olaleke	(2006-02-20) 20 February 2006 (age 18)	3	0	Ablaze
15	2DF	Israel Usulor	(2007-06-20) 20 June 2007 (age 17)	0	0	Real Sapphire
21	2DF	Chijoke Linus	(2006-07-31) 31 July 2006 (age 18)	0	0	Triple 44
22	2DF	Quadri Adewale	(2007-09-07) 7 September 2007 (age 17)	1	0	Nathaniel Boys

4	3MF	Haruna Abdullahi	(2007-01-01) 1 January 2007 (age 17)	0	0	Kurfi Tigers
7	3MF	Umar Abubakar	(2006-02-15) 15 February 2006 (age 18)	1	0	Devine
10	3MF	Ifeoluwa Olowoporoku	(2008-07-15) 15 July 2008 (age 16)	1	0	Triple 44
12	3MF	Hope Linus	(2006-08-10) 10 August 2006 (age 18)	3	0	EE Sporting Club
14	3MF	Isaac Aondoakaa	(2007-08-28) 28 August 2007 (age 17)	2	0	Bethel Sporting
17	3MF	Simon Cletus	(2008-02-10) 10 February 2008 (age 16)	0	0	Mavlon
24	3MF	Musa Akinfenwa	(2007-09-04) 4 September 2007 (age 17)	0	0	Real Sapphire
25	3MF	Usman Owoyemi	(2006-08-21) 21 August 2006 (age 18)	3	0	Triple 44
26	3MF	Matthew Kingsley	(2006-11-26) 26 November 2006 (age 17)	0	0	Brooke House College

8	4FW	Abubakar Abdullahi	(2006-01-27) 27 January 2006 (age 18)	3	1	Jega United
9	4FW	Precious Williams	(2006-10-02) 2 October 2006 (age 18)	3	0	HB Abuja
11	4FW	Charles Agada	(2006-09-03) 3 September 2006 (age 18)	3	1	Mavlon
13	4FW	Jubril Azeez	(2006-09-08) 8 September 2006 (age 18)	0	0	Right Vision
18	4FW	Simeon Ogbadibo	(2007-06-20) 20 June 2007 (age 17)	3	0	Jossy United
19	4FW	Light Eke	(2006-04-14) 14 April 2006 (age 18)	3	1	C & C
20	4FW	Favour Daniel	(2006-03-12) 12 March 2006 (age 18)	2	1	G12

Notable former players

References

^ "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.

External links

Official website of the Nigerian Football Federation

[1] "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.

[2] "Which team won the FIFA U-17 World Cup the most times?". FIFA. Retrieved 5 July 2024.

[3] "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.

[Argonauts-4] "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". Archived from the original on 15 October 2017. Retrieved 15 October 2017.

[Okeleji-6] 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.

[7] "Golden Eaglets are world champions: Nigeria U17 defeats Mexico 3- 0". afripol.org. Retrieved 5 July 2024.

[Independent_Uk-8] "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.

[9] "Nigeria Squad List" (PDF). Confederation of African Football. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 April 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.

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v t e National under-17 football teams of Africa (CAF)
North Africa (UNAF)	Algeria Egypt Libya Morocco Tunisia
West Africa (WAFU)	Benin Burkina Faso Cape Verde Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea-Bissau Ivory Coast Liberia Mali Mauritania Niger Nigeria Senegal Sierra Leone Togo
East Africa (CECAFA)	Burundi Djibouti Eritrea Ethiopia Kenya Rwanda Somalia South Sudan Sudan Tanzania Uganda Zanzibar¹
Central Africa (UNIFFAC)	Cameroon Central African Republic Chad Congo DR Congo Equatorial Guinea Gabon São Tomé and Príncipe
Southern Africa (COSAFA)	Angola Botswana Comoros Eswatini Lesotho Madagascar Malawi Mauritius Mozambique Namibia Seychelles South Africa Zambia Zimbabwe
Non-regional Members	Réunion¹
¹ Regional team, an associate member of CAF but not a member of FIFA Football in Africa portal

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