The Nigeria Football Federation has announced new appointments for the country’s U17 and U20 national teams, a decision approved by the Executive Committee after careful consideration of recommendations from its Technical and Development Sub-Committee. The move is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s youth football structure and prepare for upcoming international engagements.
For the U17 boys’ team, popularly known as the Golden Eaglets, the federation has reappointed a familiar figure with a decorated track record. This coach led the team to its fourth FIFA U17 World Cup title in 2013 in the United Arab Emirates. He also guided the team through the qualification process to the 2019 FIFA U17 World Cup in Brazil and has been involved in the national team setup across different spells. His return is seen as a calculated step by the NFF to restore the team’s winning mentality and inject stability into its technical crew ahead of the WAFU B U17 Championship, which Nigeria will host later this year.
In a similar development, the U20 girls’ team, the Falconets, will now be led by another experienced tactician who replaces Coach Chris Danjuma. The new coach has earned his reputation through years of consistent performance in the Nigerian women’s league, where he previously handled clubs like Bayelsa Queens and Edo Queens. He was also part of the Falconets’ technical bench when the team reached the quarter-finals of the 2022 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica. The NFF believes his experience and tactical depth will be vital as the Falconets prepare for their 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifying campaign, beginning with a fixture against Rwanda in September.
Both coaches are expected to officially resume duties on Sunday. Their immediate focus will be on building competitive squads that can perform at the highest level. The Golden Eaglets face an important regional assignment in the WAFU B U17 Championship, while the Falconets aim to secure qualification for another World Cup appearance.
According to officials at the NFF headquarters in Abuja, the appointments reflect the federation’s ongoing commitment to youth development. The leadership emphasized the need for proper planning, technical consistency, and continuity in team-building. They also assured that the federation would provide full support to both coaching crews, ensuring the teams receive all necessary resources to succeed.
As preparations begin for the September fixtures, fans and stakeholders will be watching closely to see how these changes impact Nigeria’s quest to remain a dominant force in African and world youth football.
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