NFF to Promote Golden Eaglets

Plans to elevate the present crop of the Golden Eaglets to the Under-20 cadre look to have witnessed green light following their triumph at the 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in the UAE.

An official of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) tells MTNFootball.com the current Golden Eaglets will be promoted to the Flying Eagles alongside one of the three coaches who led them to the just concluded tournament, where they defeated Mexico to help Nigeria clinch a record third U-17 World Cup title.

Reports suggests the head coach Manu Garba is most likely going to be made to accompany his fledgling youngsters up the hierarchy while Emmanuel Amuneke and Nnduka Ugbade may likely have to take charge of the new Eaglets.

Golden Eaglets to Move Up to the Senior Team.
Golden Eaglets to Move Up to the Senior Team.

“We have plans to graduate these Golden Eaglets to the Flying Eagles,” said the NFF chairman technical and development committee, Barrister Chris Green, to MTNFootball.com.

The NFF official said the need to sustain the attractive style of play showcased by the victorious Under-17 at the 2013 UAE World Cup necessitated the decision to have some of its technical crew stay behind and guide the upcoming lads.

“The coaching crew shall split; some remain in the U-17 and others in the U-20. And this is because we want the team to maintain a playing pattern which is attacking football,” Green added.

“And these players will graduate to the U-23s and maybe Super Eagles, while other players coming from the ranks would have learnt the playing culture of the country.”