Uwejamomere Calls Golden Eaglets Appointment “Dream Come True” After NFF Confirmation
Newly appointed Nigeria national under-17 football team head coach, Eboboritse Uwejamomere, has described his appointment as a dream fulfilled after the Nigeria Football Federation entrusted him with the responsibility of rebuilding the country’s struggling U-17 national team, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
The NFF recently confirmed Uwejamomere as the new coach of the Golden Eaglets, replacing experienced youth tactician Manu Garba, as the federation seeks a fresh direction following years of disappointing performances at continental and global tournaments.
Reacting to the appointment, Uwejamomere expressed pride and gratitude at the opportunity to lead one of Nigeria’s most successful national teams.
“It’s a dream come true,” he wrote on X. “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 several levels of Nigerian football. He previously worked with the Nigeria national football team as a coach-analyst and also served within the Nigeria women's national football team setup.
At club level, he currently serves as Head of Academy at Sporting Lagos F.C., where he has been heavily involved in youth player development. He also managed Stormers FC and gained coaching and academy experience in England with Millwall F.C., Gillingham F.C. and Nottingham Forest F.C..
Uwejamomere holds a UEFA B coaching licence and is regarded as part of a new generation of coaches focused on tactical structure, 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 crew, 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 youth level, the Golden Eaglets have struggled in recent years. Nigeria remains the most successful nation in the history of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, winning 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 claimed back-to-back world titles in 2013 and 2015. Over the years, the Golden Eaglets have produced several Nigerian football legends, including Nwankwo Kanu, John Obi Mikel and Victor Osimhen.
However, the team’s fortunes have declined significantly in recent times. Nigeria failed to qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2017, 2023 and 2025, while also missing the last three editions of the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.
Their latest disappointment came after a 2-0 defeat to Ghana national under-17 football team 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 physicality alone.
His first major assignment 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 expected to task the new coach with rebuilding Nigeria’s youth development pipeline and producing players capable of progressing to the Flying Eagles and eventually the senior national team.