Nigeria national under-17 football team

Last updated

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
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First colours
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Second colours
Biggest defeat
Flag of France.svg  France 3–0 Nigeria  Flag of Nigeria.svg
(Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago; 30 September 2001)
Flag of Benin.svg  Benin 3–0 Nigeria  Flag of Nigeria.svg
(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
Appearances10 (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 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]

Contents

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
YearRoundPositionGPWD*LGSGA
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg 1985 Champions1st6420102
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg 1987 Runners-up2nd632175
Flag of Scotland (traditional).svg 1989 Quarter-finals6th422070
Flag of Italy.svg 1991 did not qualify
Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg 1993 Champions1st6600203
Flag of Ecuador.svg 1995 Quarter-finals7th421164
Flag of Egypt.svg 1997 did not qualify
Flag of New Zealand.svg 1999
Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg 2001 Runners-up2nd6501145
Flag of Finland.svg 2003 Group stage11th311133
Flag of Peru.svg 2005 did not qualify
Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg 2007 Champions1st7610164
Flag of Nigeria.svg 2009 Runners-up2nd7511177
Flag of Mexico.svg 2011 did not qualify
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg 2013 Champions1st7610265
Flag of Chile.svg 2015 Champions1st7601235
Flag of India.svg 2017 did not qualify
Flag of Brazil.svg 2019 Round of 1615th420299
Flag of Indonesia.svg 2023 did not qualify
Flag of Qatar.svg 2025
Total12/205 Titles674811815852

U-17 Africa Cup of Nations record

U-17 Africa Cup of Nations
YearRoundPositionGPWD*LGSGA
Flag of Mali.svg 1995 Runners-up2nd5401135
Flag of Botswana.svg 1997 did not qualify
Flag of Guinea.svg 1999 Group stage6th311155
Flag of Seychelles.svg 2001 Champions1st5320134
Flag of Eswatini.svg 2003 Third place3rd540192
Flag of The Gambia.svg 2005 Group stage6th311186
Flag of Togo (3-2).svg 2007 Champions1st5500151
Flag of Algeria.svg 2009 did not qualify
Flag of Rwanda.svg 2011
Flag of Morocco.svg 2013 Runners-up2nd5311185
Flag of Niger.svg 2015 Fourth place4th521276
Flag of Gabon.svg 2017 did not qualify
Flag of Tanzania.svg 2019 Fourth place4th221259
Flag of Algeria.svg 2023 Quarter-finals-420255
Flag of Morocco.svg 2025 Did not qualify
Total10/152 titles45277119858

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

Sports

Medical

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.PlayerDate of birth (age)CapsGoalsClub
11 GK Richard Odoh (2006-11-23) 23 November 2006 (age 18)30 Flag of Nigeria.svg HB Abuja
161 GK Temiloluwa Adelakin (2006-06-12) 12 June 2006 (age 18)00 Flag of Nigeria.svg Box2Box
231 GK Gift Adie (2007-02-07) 7 February 2007 (age 17)00 Flag of Nigeria.svg Paul E

22 DF Yahaya Lawali (2006-06-06) 6 June 2006 (age 18)30 Flag of Nigeria.svg Mahanaim
32 DF Emmanuel Michael (2006-06-16) 16 June 2006 (age 18)30 Flag of Nigeria.svg Simon Ben
52 DF Joseph Ogboji (2006-12-15) 15 December 2006 (age 18)30 Flag of Nigeria.svg Purple Crown
62 DF Jeremiah Olaleke (2006-02-20) 20 February 2006 (age 18)30 Flag of Nigeria.svg Ablaze
152 DF Israel Usulor (2007-06-20) 20 June 2007 (age 17)00 Flag of Nigeria.svg Real Sapphire
212 DF Chijoke Linus (2006-07-31) 31 July 2006 (age 18)00 Flag of Nigeria.svg Triple 44
222 DF Quadri Adewale (2007-09-07) 7 September 2007 (age 17)10 Flag of Nigeria.svg Nathaniel Boys

43 MF Haruna Abdullahi (2007-01-01) 1 January 2007 (age 17)00 Flag of Nigeria.svg Kurfi Tigers
73 MF Umar Abubakar (2006-02-15) 15 February 2006 (age 18)10 Flag of Nigeria.svg Devine
103 MF Ifeoluwa Olowoporoku (2008-07-15) 15 July 2008 (age 16)10 Flag of Nigeria.svg Triple 44
123 MF Hope Linus (2006-08-10) 10 August 2006 (age 18)30 Flag of Nigeria.svg EE Sporting Club
143 MF Isaac Aondoakaa (2007-08-28) 28 August 2007 (age 17)20 Flag of Nigeria.svg Bethel Sporting
173 MF Simon Cletus (2008-02-10) 10 February 2008 (age 16)00 Flag of Nigeria.svg Mavlon
243 MF Musa Akinfenwa (2007-09-04) 4 September 2007 (age 17)00 Flag of Nigeria.svg Real Sapphire
253 MF Usman Owoyemi (2006-08-21) 21 August 2006 (age 18)30 Flag of Nigeria.svg Triple 44
263 MF Matthew Kingsley (2006-11-26) 26 November 2006 (age 18)00 Flag of England.svg Brooke House College

84 FW Abubakar Abdullahi (2006-01-27) 27 January 2006 (age 18)31 Flag of Nigeria.svg Jega United
94 FW Precious Williams (2006-10-02) 2 October 2006 (age 18)30 Flag of Nigeria.svg HB Abuja
114 FW Charles Agada (2006-09-03) 3 September 2006 (age 18)31 Flag of Nigeria.svg Mavlon
134 FW Jubril Azeez (2006-09-08) 8 September 2006 (age 18)00 Flag of Nigeria.svg Right Vision
184 FW Simeon Ogbadibo (2007-06-20) 20 June 2007 (age 17)30 Flag of Nigeria.svg Jossy United
194 FW Light Eke (2006-04-14) 14 April 2006 (age 18)31 Flag of Nigeria.svg C & C
204 FW Favour Daniel (2006-03-12) 12 March 2006 (age 18)21 Flag of Nigeria.svg G12

Notable former players

  

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

  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.
  4. 1 2 "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.
  6. 1 2 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.
  8. 1 2 "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.

Head-to-head record

The following table shows Nigeria's head-to-head record in the FIFA U-17 World Cup.