The Nigeria National Under-17 football team participated in the WAFU and CAF AFCON but failed to pick a ticket to the FIFA World Cup in Indonesia.
In this article, we give you a breakdown of the complete squad.
Nigeria national Under-17 football team – AFCON 2023
Richard Odoh (HB Football Academy)
Goalkeeper Richard Odoh represented the Nigeria national Under-17 football team at the West B Zone (WAFU-UFOA B) Championship. He was also the top-choice goalkeeper at the CAF Under-17 Nations Cup.
He won the Man-of-the-Match in the Finals of the Under 17 WAFU Zone B Championship. The talented 16-year-old goalkeeper attributed their failure to qualify for Indonesia 2023 to mistakes.
Yahaya Danjuma Lawali (Mahanaim FC)
Yahaya Lawali is a right-back for the Nigeria national Under-17 football team. He featured in the West B Zone (WAFU-UFOA B) Championship and the CAF Under-17 Nations Cup.
The 17-year-old right-back put on a man-of-the-match performance in Nigeria’s 1-0 win over Zambia at the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday.
What makes Lawali extra special is his versatility. The youngster is comfortable playing on the left side of the defence or as a winger, making him a valuable utility player.
Emmanuel Michael (Simon Ben Football Academy)
Nigeria U-17 left-back Emmanuel Michael was among the best 60 talents born in 2006 alongside Real Madrid-bound Endrick and PSG fast-rising midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery.
At the U-17 WAFU tournament, he had three goals and two assists from his role as a left-back. He won four straight Player of the Match awards and only failed to win the award in the final match.
Haruna Abdullahi (Kurfi Tigers Academy)
Haruna Abdullahi is a midfielder for the Golden Eaglets, who received an invite to the team from Kurfi Tigers Academy in Katsina.
He was one of the players who could not show their abilities during the tournament.
Tochukwu Joseph Ogboji (Purple Crown Academy)
Tochukwu Ogboji was a consistent feature for the Golden Eaglets at the CAF Under-17 Nations Cup.
The 16-year-old defender featured in all his team’s games till they crashed out in the quarter-final to Burkina Faso. He had a less-than-average performance against Burkina Faso.
Jeremiah Oluwaseyi Olaleke (Ablaze Football Academy)
Olaleke is another defender who was a consistent feature for the Golden Eaglets. He partnered with Tochukwu Ogboji in defence in all four games. He was solid at the back and played every minute of the CAF U-17 tournament.
He put in a decent performance as the Nigeria National Under-17 football team crashed out against the Burkinabes.
Umar Abubakar (Devine Football Academy)
Umar Abubakar is a graduate of Devine Football Academy. The midfielder currently plays for Plateau United and featured for the Golden Eaglets at the CAF U-17 Nations Cup.
He came on as a substitute twice this season for the Jos-based side. He played in the 1-0 win over Sunshine Stars and the loss to Gombe United.
The 17-year-old winger came on as a 65th-minute substitute in the 1-2 loss to Burkina Faso that saw the Nigeria National under-17 football team fail to qualify for Indonesia 2023.
Abubakar Idris Abdullahi (Jega United)
Abubakar Abdullahi was the top striker for the Golden Eaglets at both the WAFU and CAF tournaments. The Jega United striker scored a double to help the Nigeria National Under-17 football team win the WAFU tourney.
He scored two goals at the CAF U-17 Nations Cup to finish as the team’s top scorer.
Precious Tonye Williams (HB Football Academy)
The HB Academy product was the captain of the Nduka Ugbade-led side because of his leadership qualities on and off the pitch.
He started two games and was a substitute twice in Algeria as the Nigeria National Under-17 football team failed to make it to Indonesia.
Precious is known for his composure, finishing abilities and calmness in front of goal, but he failed to score at the Algeria tournament.
Ifeoluwa Adewale Olowoporoku (Triple 44 Academy)
Ifeoluwa Adewale Olowoporoku was the youngest player in the Golden Eaglets squad for the 2023 U-17 African Cup of Nations in Algeria.
At 14, Olowoporoku made the squad. However, the talented midfielder came on in the final minute of their last group game against South Africa. The Golden Eaglets won 3-2 to set a date with Burkina Faso.
Charles Adah Agada (Mavlon FC)
Agada is a secondary school student and striker for the Golden Eaglets, but he missed out on the WAFU qualifiers in Ghana due to an injury.
Agada’s potential has not gone unnoticed, as he has trained with Spanish La Liga outfit Granada CF, while Sevilla and Atletico Madrid are also reportedly monitoring his progress.
Agada’s only goal was against South Africa in the 3-2 group stage win.
Hope Yusuf Linus (E.E. Sporting Club)
Hope Linus plays for E. E. Sporting Club Lagos. He was one of Nduka Ugbade’s main henchmen at the CAF U-17 Nations Cup.
The midfielder can play anywhere across the midfield and featured in all the matches at the tournament for the Nigeria National Under-17 football team. He played every minute and was never substituted.
Jubril Opeyemi Azeez (Right Vision Choice Academy)
Jubril Azeez was a part of the squad for the 2023 CAF AFCON. The 17-year-old Right Vision Choice Academy forward did not feature in any AFCON games.
He hopes to make it to the Flying Eagles in the future.
Anongu Isaac Aondoakaa (FC Bathel Sporting)
Anongu Isaac Aondoakaa is an SS1 student at David Hall International College, Lagos.
The 15-year-old Benue State-born youngster can operate in different attacking positions with his speed, passing range, shot power and eye for goal.
Aondoakaa made only two sub appearances for the Nigeria National Under-17 football team in Algeria – against Morocco and South Africa.
Israel Nwachukwu Usulor (Real Sapphire FC)
Perhaps Israel Usulor thought he would contribute much to the Golden Eaglets as they chased another AFCON title, but the Real Sapphire FC defender was no more than a squad player in Algeria.
The 16-year-old defender did not taste action at the AFCON.
Temiloluwa Oluwayimika Adelakin (Box2Box Academy)
The second goalkeeper of the Nigeria National Under-17 team never got the opportunity to showcase his skills, as Richard Odoh ensured he did not see action.
However, the Lagos-based goalkeeper is a dependable assistant and would prove his mettle when called upon.
Simon Karshe Cletus (Mavlon FC)
Simon Cletus played only four minutes of the ill-fated clash against Burkina Faso at the 2023 CAF U-17 AFCON. The 15-year-old talented midfielder was mainly a bench warmer.
Tochukwu Simeon Ogbadibo (Jossy United)
The 16-year-old Jossy United forward was a dependable player for coach Nduka Ugbade during the AFCON tournament in Algeria.
The forward featured for the Nigeria National Under-17 football team in every game, but he never finished any games. He didn’t score any goals either.
In the game against Burkina Faso, the talented midfielder drifted in and out in a barely decent performance.
Light Chijioke Eke (C&C Football Academy)
Light Eke was born into a football-loving family in Nigeria. His father was a football coach, and his mother was a former women’s football player.
Eke joined his local football club at eight, where his father was the coach. He is known for his lightning-fast speed, quick feet, and excellent dribbling skills. He has drawn comparisons to French superstar Kylian Mbappe.
Eke played in all the AFCON matches of the Nigeria National Football team and scored a goal against South Africa. He also missed a penalty against the Young Chipolopolo of Zambia.
Favour Oluwasegun Daniel (G12 Football Academy)
Favour Daniel is a talented striker. The 17-year-old Lagos-based striker featured for the Golden Eaglets in three of four games and scored the only goal against Zambia.
Chijioke Julius Linus (Triple 44 Academy)
Chijioke Linus is one of the three players from Triple 44 Academy in Ibadan who made the Nigeria National Uder-17 team.
Chijioke, Ifeoluwa Adewale Olowoporoku and Usman Ajibola Owoyemi made the squad. The defender did not get a look-in as he did not feature in any games.
Usman Ajibola Owoyemi (Triple 44 Academy)
Usman Owoyemi is another Triple 44 Academy product. The Ibadan-based lad made an impression on Nduka Ugbade at the tournament.
He played every game and was substituted twice. The first substitution was in the 90th minute against South Africa. Fellow Academy product Olowoporoku took his place.
He was also substituted in the 86th minute against Burkina Faso.
Quadri Oluwatobiloba Adewale (Nathaniel Boys FC)
Quadri Adewale graduated from the same academy as Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi. The midfielder said he was shocked at the invitation to the team.
However, the 16-year-old Surulere-born defender made only one substitute appearance at AFCON.
Gift Ukeh Adie (Paul E Football Academy)
Gift Ukeh Adie and Temiloluwa Adeyimika Adelakin were uninvited to the Golden Eaglets training camp in Abuja but tried their luck, as they were not on the official list of invited players.
Surprisingly, they were selected on merit because of their hard work and determination.
However, the goalkeeper did not get any match action at the tournament.
Musa Oluwaseyi Akinfenwa (Real Sapphire FC)
Musa Akinfenwa is a right-winger from Real Sapphire FC in Lagos. He didn’t get a chance to prove himself but showed enough in training camp to be part of the AFCON squad.
Matthew Awodi Kingsley (Brook House Academy)
Matthew Awodi is a product of Brook House Football Academy in London. He is a defensive midfielder who can also play as a defender.
The Benue-born young player did not get the opportunity he sought to display his skills for Nigeria on the international scene.
This article was most recently revised and updated 1 day ago
