The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced the reappointment of Manu Garba as the head coach of the Golden Eaglets, the national under-17 football team.
Garba, who previously led the team to victory in the FIFA U17 World Cup in 2013, will once again take the reins of the squad as they prepare for upcoming competitions.
The federation made the announcement in a statement released on Friday, confirming Garba’s return to the position he held during the team’s historic triumph in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) nine years ago.
During his first tenure, Garba guided the Golden Eaglets to glory with a talented squad that included notable players such as Kelechi Iheanacho, Taiwo Awoniyi, Isaac Success, Musa Mohammed, Chidiebere Nwakali, and Dele Alampasu.
After a brief stint coaching the men’s U-20 squad, Garba was reappointed to lead the Golden Eaglets in 2018. However, his second spell saw limited success, culminating in the team’s exit in the Round of 16 of the 2019 U-17 World Cup in Brazil.
Now, Garba returns for his latest stint with the team, tasked with preparing them for the upcoming WAFU B U-17 Championship in Ghana next month.
With eyes set on redemption following Nigeria’s disappointing performance in the 2023 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Garba aims to assemble a formidable squad capable of surpassing previous achievements and making a mark on the international stage once again.
