The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced the appointment of Manu Garba, a former U17 World Cup champion, as the new Head Coach for the Nigerian U17 boys’ team, known as the Golden Eaglets.
The declaration was made by Ademola Olajire, the NFF’s Director of Communications, in a recent statement from Abuja.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Garba is returning to a familiar role, having previously guided the Golden Eaglets to victory at the FIFA U17 World Cup held in the United Arab Emirates in 2013.
The victorious 2013 team boasted talented players such as Kelechi Iheanacho, Taiwo Awoniyi, Isaac Success, Musa Mohammed, Chidiebere Nwakali, and goalkeeper Dele Alampasu.
This team was the runner-up at the African U17 Championship in Morocco, narrowly missing the title in a penalty shootout against Cote d’Ivoire.
However, they showcased their prowess by defeating Mexico with a staggering 6-1 score in their first match, drawing 3-3 against Sweden, and securing a decisive 5-0 win over Iraq.
The team continued their impressive run by beating Iran 4-1 in the Round of 16, overcoming Uruguay 2-0 in the quarterfinals, and achieving a convincing 3-0 victory over Sweden in the semi-finals.
The climax of their journey was a repeat 3-0 triumph against Mexico in the finals, earning them the world cup trophy.
Olajire confirmed that Garba will assume his duties immediately, spearheading the Golden Eaglets’ preparations for the upcoming WAFU B U17 Championship, which is set to take place in Ghana this May.
