The newly appointed Golden Eaglets head coach, Eboboritse Uwejamomere, has described his appointment as a “Dream come true” after the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) handed him the responsibility of rebuilding Nigeria’s struggling U-17 side.
New Telegraph reports that the federation confirmed Uwejamomere as the new coach of the Golden Eaglets, replacing long-serving youth coach Manu Garba.
The decision comes at a critical period for Nigeria’s age-grade football structure, following a series of underwhelming performances on continental and global stages.
Uwejamomere, regarded as one of Nigeria’s promising young coaches, expressed deep emotion over the appointment, calling it a milestone in his career.
On his X account, he wrote: “It’s a dream come true to become head coach of the Nigeria U17 men’s national team (the Golden Eaglets), five-time world champions. Over thirteen years of learning, patience, hard work, and dedication have led to this moment…”
The new coach brings a blend of domestic and international experience. He has previously worked with the Super Eagles as a coach-analyst and contributed to the Super Falcons setup.
At the club level, he currently serves as Head of Academy at Sporting Lagos, where he has played a key role in shaping one of Nigeria’s more structured youth development systems.
Earlier in his career, he managed Stormers FC and gained coaching education experience in England with clubs including Millwall, Gillingham, and Nottingham Forest.
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He holds a UEFA B coaching licence and is known for his modern, data-driven approach that emphasises tactical discipline, video analysis, and structured player development.
The Nigeria Football Federation believes his profile aligns with efforts to modernise the Golden Eaglets setup after years of inconsistent results in youth competitions.
To support him, Uwejamomere has assembled a new technical crew. Olumide Joseph Ajibolade joins as the first assistant coach, Mohammed Kalli Kachala as the second assistant coach, while Abdullahi Isa will serve as the team’s goalkeepers’ trainer.
Golden Eaglets Face Major Rebuild After Long Slump
Despite their rich tradition at the youth level, the Golden Eaglets have experienced a steep decline in recent years.
Nigeria remain the most successful nation in FIFA U-17 World Cup history, with five titles won in 1985, 1993, 2007, 2013, and 2015, alongside runner-up finishes in 1987, 2001, and 2009.
The Golden Eaglets first announced themselves on the global stage by winning the inaugural FIFA U-16 World Championship in China in 1985, defeating West Germany 2–0 in the final.
Decades later, they reaffirmed their dominance with back-to-back FIFA U-17 World Cup triumphs in 2013 and 2015, becoming only the second country after Brazil to successfully defend the title.
Over the years, the team has produced some of Nigeria’s most iconic footballers, including Nwankwo Kanu from the 1993 squad, John Obi Mikel from the 2003 set, and Victor Osimhen, who starred at the 2015 tournament with a record-breaking 10 goals.
However, Nigeria’s fortunes have declined sharply in recent years. The country failed to qualify for the 2017, 2023, and 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cups, and also missed out on the last three editions of the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.
Their most recent disappointment came in a 2–0 semi-final defeat to Ghana at the WAFU B tournament, a result that ended hopes of reaching both the 2026 U-17 AFCON and the FIFA World Cup.
That setback prompted the Nigeria Football Federation to seek a new direction for the team.
Officials within the federation’s youth development structure believe Eboboritse Uwejamomere was selected for his modern tactical approach, which emphasises structured pressing, flexibility, and data-driven decision-making rather than relying solely on physicality and individual brilliance.
His first major test will come in September at the WAFU B U-17 Boys Championship, which also serves as a qualification for the Africa U-17 Cup of Nations.
Beyond results, the federation reportedly expects him to strengthen Nigeria’s youth pipeline by identifying and developing several standout talents capable of progressing into the Flying Eagles setup.
Uwejamomere is now tasked with leading a full revival of the Golden Eaglets and restoring Nigeria’s reputation as a dominant force in world youth football.
