Golden Eaglets Coach Targets Nigeria Revival After NFF Appointment

Golden Eaglets Coach Targets Nigeria Revival After NFF Appointment

By BSN Sports 

Newly appointed Golden Eaglets head coach, Eboboritse Uwejamomere, has described his appointment as a dream fulfilled after the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) entrusted him with the task of rebuilding the country’s struggling U-17 national team.

The NFF recently confirmed Uwejamomere as the new coach of the Golden Eaglets, replacing experienced youth coach Manu Garba, as the federation seeks a fresh direction following years of disappointing performances at continental and global competitions.

Reacting to the appointment, Uwejamomere expressed gratitude and pride at being handed the opportunity to lead one of Nigeria’s most successful national teams.

“It’s a dream come true,” he wrote on his X account. “Proud to become head coach of the Nigeria U-17 men’s national team, the Golden Eaglets. Over 13 years of learning, patience, hard work and dedication have led to this moment.”

The young tactician arrives with experience across different levels of Nigerian football. He previously worked with the Super Eagles as a coach-analyst and also served within the Super Falcons setup. At club level, he is the Head of Academy at Sporting Lagos, where he played a key role in developing one of the country’s most ambitious youth football projects.

Uwejamomere also managed Stormers FC and gained valuable coaching education and academy experience in England with Millwall, Gillingham and Nottingham Forest. He holds a UEFA B coaching licence and is regarded as part of a new generation of coaches who prioritise tactical organisation, video analysis and data-driven decision-making.

The NFF believes his modern coaching philosophy can help reposition the Golden Eaglets after years of decline in Nigeria’s youth football system.

To strengthen the technical setup, former Beyond Limits FA coach Olumide Joseph Ajibolade has been appointed first assistant coach, while Mohammed Kalli Kachala will serve as second assistant coach. Abdullahi Isa has been named goalkeepers’ trainer.

Despite Nigeria’s rich pedigree at U-17 level, the Golden Eaglets have struggled in recent years. Nigeria remains the most successful nation in FIFA U-17 World Cup history, having won the title five times — in 1985, 1993, 2007, 2013 and 2015 — while also finishing runners-up on three occasions.

The team famously won the inaugural FIFA U-16 World Championship in China in 1985 and later secured back-to-back world titles in 2013 and 2015. Over the years, the Golden Eaglets have produced several Nigerian football icons, including Nwankwo Kanu, John Obi Mikel and Victor Osimhen.

However, the team’s fortunes have declined sharply in recent times. Nigeria failed to qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2017, 2023 and 2025 and also missed out on the last three editions of the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.

Their latest disappointment came after a 2-0 defeat to Ghana in the semi-finals of the WAFU B tournament, ending hopes of qualification for the 2026 U-17 AFCON and FIFA U-17 World Cup.

The setback reportedly convinced the NFF that a new technical direction was necessary, with Uwejamomere selected for his emphasis on structured pressing, tactical flexibility and performance analysis rather than reliance on physicality alone.

His first major task will be leading the Golden Eaglets at the WAFU B U-17 Boys Championship in September, which also serves as the qualifying tournament for the Africa U-17 Cup of Nations.

Beyond immediate results, the federation is also expected to task the new coach with rebuilding Nigeria’s youth development pipeline and producing players capable of progressing to the Flying Eagles and senior national teams.