The NFF appointed Finidi George to be in charge of the Nigerian football team last may, but it wasn’t a decision that went down well for both parties, and with the Super Eagles still without a head coach, Amoo believes a local option is best.

Speaking in an interview with Brila, the former Super Eagles midfielder mentioned several ex-Nigerian players who he thinks are fit for the role.

“We have our challenges from this part of the world. You cannot have people like Daniel Amokachi, who has assisted the late Amodu Shuaibu and the late Stephen Keshi to a successful degree in terms of achievements, and you still don’t want to look at him as somebody who can do something. Of course, it means you are not trying to recognize what your people can do. Sylvanus Okpala came out the other time, and people shouted that it couldn’t be. I don’t know why it can’t be because not only was he a player, but he is also a qualified coach, managed in Nigeria, and he has been with the national team,” the ex-Shooting Stars coach said.

Overall, Amoo believes the past experience of these coaches are more than enough reason for the NFF to delve into the plethora of options they have in the country.

“So, if you look at those who have done that and they are still coaching, there’s no point not to bring them together to do the job to get the substantive coach. So, I am towing the line that we should get Nigerian Indigenous coaches,” he concluded.

The Super Eagles will play against Rwanda and Benin Republic in their upcoming AFCON 2025 qualifiers next month, and are still without a coach.

Former Nigeria U-17 left back, Emmanuel Michael has joined one-time Austria Champions, LASK, on a season-long loan, Soccernet.ng reports.

He joins the Austrian Champions from the SimoIben Football Academy for a year, with the option to make the deal permanent next summer. Personal terms had been agreed for a while, but the club had to wait till the defender turned 18 so he could sign a professional contract.

Upon signing for LASK, he’ll join their Amateur team to further his development with the hopes of featuring in the senior team as time goes on.

CAF is expected to announce the increase in participating teams to 24 during a virtual meeting of the Executive Committee on Friday, June 21, 2024.

This expansion is in line with FIFA’s decision to increase the World Cup teams to 48, allowing Africa to have 10 representatives at the global event.

Currently, the U-17 AFCON has 12 teams, with qualification based on zones. Each zone, including WAFU Zone B where Nigeria competes, sends two teams.

With the expected expansion, each zone will send four teams. This is good news for Nigeria, who finished third in this year’s WAFU Zone B championship.

Burkina Faso won the tournament in Accra, beating Ivory Coast in the final. Nigeria secured third place by defeating Ghana 2-1.

Previously, only the top two teams from each zone would qualify. If CAF confirms the expansion, the top four teams from each zone, including Nigeria, will qualify for next year’s U-17 AFCON in Algeria. This gives Nigeria a chance to compete for a spot in the World Cup in Qatar.

Nigeria boast a strong record in U-17 football, having won the FIFA U-17 World Cup five times and finishing as runners-up three times. They are also two-time U-17 AFCON champions, last winning in 2007.

The Golden Eaglets won the first FIFA U-17 World Cup in 1985 and added titles in 1993, 2007, 2013, and 2015. They also won the African U-17 Championship in 2001 and 2007 and were runners-up in 1995 and 2013.

This announcement means that despite the Golden Eaglets’ 3-2 victory over Ghana in the third-place match of the WAFU B U17 Championship, they will not qualify for the AFCON finals.

Earlier reports suggested that Manu Garba’s team might qualify for the AFCON due to an expected increase in participants to 16, influenced by FIFA’s new rule.

However, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has now clarified that CAF’s Director of Competitions, Samson Adamu, confirmed the tournament will remain at 12 teams.

“The final tournament will still have 12 teams,” Adamu stated, as quoted by thenff.com.

There was widespread anticipation among African football enthusiasts that the 2025 Africa U17 Cup of Nations would expand the number of participating teams.

This expectation was driven by FIFA’s recent announcement at its Congress in Bangkok, where it allocated 10 slots to Africa for the 2025 FIFA U17 World Cup, which will be hosted by Qatar.

Starting next year, Qatar will host five consecutive FIFA U17 World Cup tournaments, each featuring 48 teams.

Despite this expanded global format, the Africa U17 Cup of Nations will retain its current structure with only 12 teams competing.

Abdulmuiz Adeleke’s impressive brace, along with a goal from Imrana Muhammed, ensured Manu Garba’s boys clinched a well-deserved third-place finish.

Home support energized the Black Starlets, leading to their equalizer just 10 minutes after Nigeria’s initial lead. A Nigerian defender inadvertently put the ball into his own net, leveling the score.

Three-time world champions Ghana then took the lead in the 27th minute. Harve Gbafa capitalized on a defensive error, beating Nigerian goalkeeper Dominic Chinedu to put the Black Starlets ahead.

Nigeria’s Abdulmuiz Adeleke, who had previously scored twice in the Eaglets’ 3-0 victory over Togo, attempted to respond six minutes later, testing Ghanaian goalkeeper Michael Armah. However, the danger was cleared.

The Eaglets’ persistence paid off four minutes before half-time when Adeleke scored the equalizer, heading in a cross from John Ogwuche to bring his tournament tally to three.

The second half continued with both teams displaying impressive attacking football. Ogwuche came close to scoring in the 79th minute, but his rebound missed the target.

As the match seemed destined for a penalty shootout, Adeleke once again took center stage. In the second minute of added time, he scored the decisive goal, securing a 3-2 victory for Nigeria and their place at next year’s continental finals.

Following a 1-0 loss to Ivory Coast in the semi-final of the WAFU B tournament, Nigeria’s chances of participating in the next World Cup and the AFCON youth tournament were jeopardized.

Initially, two teams were expected to qualify from each zonal qualifier organized by CAF. However, there is anticipation of an increase in the number of teams for the U-17 AFCON, potentially expanding from 16, following FIFA’s decision to expand the World Cup to 32 teams.

According to U-17 media officer Francis Achi, the expansion is still under consideration, and the African football body will announce its decision this week.

Update from WAFU B U17 championship…

CAF will confirm in the coming days if three or four teams will qualify from WAFU B. @CAF_Online @CAF_Media @thenff @NGSuperEagles pic.twitter.com/n1O6fJZXZm

— Francis Achi (@totorimaster) May 26, 2024

Meanwhile, Manu Garba’s squad will face Ghana’s Black Starlets in the third-place playoff of the WAFU B U-17 Championship at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium on Tuesday.

After the semi-final loss to Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria aims to secure third place amidst the uncertainty about the number of teams advancing to the AFCON.

The third-place match is scheduled to begin at 4 PM Nigeria time, followed by the final between Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire at 7 PM.

This follows Ghana’s failure to qualify for the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the World Cup.

Ghana lost 2-1 to Burkina Faso in the semifinals, missing out on a chance to secure a spot in next year’s AFCON.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets were narrowly defeated 1-0 by Cote d’Ivoire in their semifinal match.

In a press conference, Kingston expressed his disappointment and announced his resignation. He stated that he had decided to step down regardless of the outcome of the tournament.

The Ghana FA confirmed that Kingston’s assistant coaches, supported by the technical director, will manage the team for the third-place match against Nigeria on Tuesday, May 28, 2024.

Possible AFCON Chance for Golden Eaglets

Despite their semifinal loss, Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets may still qualify for next year’s U-17 AFCON.

The expansion of the FIFA U-17 World Cup means more African teams could secure spots.

CAF has not yet announced how many teams from the WAFU B qualifying tournament will advance to the U-17 AFCON.

However, Golden Eaglets insider Francis Achi, suggested that the winners of the third-place match against Ghana might qualify.

Lifeline for Golden Eaglets…

It is likely that three teams will qualify from WAFU Zone B for U17 AFCON.
There is still all to play for in the third place game against Ghana. pic.twitter.com/9jRVdQJ2LT

— Francis Achi (@totorimaster) May 25, 2024

“It is likely that three teams will qualify from WAFU Zone B for the U17 AFCON,” Achi posted on social media. “There is still all to play for in the third-place game against Ghana.”

Update from WAFU B U17 championship…

CAF will confirm in the coming days if three or four teams will qualify from WAFU B. @CAF_Online @CAF_Media @thenff @NGSuperEagles pic.twitter.com/n1O6fJZXZm

— Francis Achi (@totorimaster) May 26, 2024

The Golden Eaglets are the most successful team in FIFA U-17 World Cup history, with five titles.

The Golden Eaglets lacked the cutting edge in attack and were sloppy in defence, letting the Ivorians secure a final spot against Burkina Faso.

Here are the five takeaways from the encounter as compiled by Soccernet.ng.

1. Lack of clinicality in attack.

Nigeria started the game well, but as time went on, they couldn’t perform as a team in attack. Either passes were overhit or underhit. The resulting attempts from these passes weren’t great as well, it was almost like the players had heavy legs and were unable to shoot the ball well.

2. Sloppiness in defence.

Time after time, attack after attack, the Ivorians seemed to have a physical advantage over Manu Garba’s defenders. They were caught out of position a few times and lacked confidence on the ball when they had it.

3. Nigeria will play against Ghana in the third-place fixture.

The Golden Eaglets’ loss to Ivory Coast means the Baby Elephants will play against Burkina Faso in the WAFU B U-17 CAF final, while Nigeria will play against Ghana in the third place.

4. Nigeria will not participate in the 2025 AFCON U-17 tournament.

The Golden Eaglets will not participate in the 2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, which is the prerequisite tournament for the 2025 U-17 FIFA World Cup because they couldn’t reach the final. The AFCON tickets will go to the finalists, Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso.

5. Nigeria need more creative midfielders.

Throughout the competition, talents have been abundant, but one key element has been absent, and that is the presence of a midfielder who can control games and create chances out of nothing. With a talented box to box player, the team should be able to do better next time.

Cote d’Ivoire’s Baby Elephants produced a nerve-racking 1-0 victory over Nigeria in the semifinals of the WAFU B U17 Championship to dump the Golden Eaglets out of the AFCON and the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Nigeria made it to the semifinals as Group B winners after winning two games against Niger and Togi and drawing with Burkina Faso.

The Manu Garba-tutored boys had impressed in those games by scoring four goals and bonding none to book a date with Group A runners-up Cote d’Ivoire.

However, the Golden Eaglets lacked cutting edge in the final third against the Ivorians and failed to muster an equaliser after succumbing to a second-half sucker punch from Youbah Koulibaly. 

Cote d’Ivoire will join Burkina Faso at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations later in the year, with Ghana and Nigeria both eliminated. The two countries will also trade tackles in the final of the WAFU B tournament.

Ghana, the WAFU B U17 Championship hosts suffered a disappointing 2-1 loss to Burkina Faso earlier in the year.

With the U17 AFCON serving as the qualifiers for the FIFA U17 World Cup, this also means Nigeria will not be participating at the 20th edition of the Mundial.

It will be the second consecutive World Cup that the Golden Eaglets will miss after failing to qualify for the 2023 edition.

Nigeria are the most successful national team at the U17 World Cup with five titles, the last of which the Eaglets won in 2015.

The Golden Eaglets showed more composure in attack than in their previous games and remained solid in defence to send the young Togolese lads back to Lome with an empty purse.

Here are the five takeaways from the encounter as compiled by Soccernet.ng‘s Imhons Erons.

1. Clinical finishing and offensive cohesion

Nigeria’s 3-0 victory over Togo showcased the team’s increasing attacking coordination, with Abdulmuiz Adeleke, Rapha Adams, and Abdulmuiz Oladimeji forming a potent partnership.

Adeleke’s early goal, coupled with Rapha Adams’ header from captain Simom Cletus’ cross, illustrated the team’s ability to create and capitalize on scoring opportunities.

This offensive cohesion will be crucial as they prepare to face Cote d’Ivoire in the semifinals.

2. Midfield mastery

Simon Cletus was once again a pivotal figure in midfield for Nigeria, providing assists for both the second and third goals.

While he was not named the man-of-the-match as he did against Niger and Burkina Faso, Cletus’ vision and playmaking skills helped unlock Togo’s defense.

The youngster’s role as the creative engine of the team is becoming more pronounced.

Cletus’ performance underscores the importance of a dynamic midfield in dictating the tempo and controlling the game.

3. Defensive solidity

The Golden Eaglets’ defence has been impenetrable throughout the tournament, maintaining clean sheets in all three group matches.

Their disciplined backline effectively neutralized Togo’s attacking threats. Kudos to coach Garba for the team’s organization and defensive strategy.

This defensive resilience will be vital in the semifinals, where one mistake could be costly.

4. Depth and versatility

Manu Garba’s side displayed impressive depth and versatility, with different players stepping up at crucial moments.

The coach gave opportunities to other players who did not feature in the other two games, without affecting team dynamics and cohesion.

While Adeleke missed a penalty that could have secured his hat-trick, the team’s overall performance did not waver.

This depth ensures that Nigeria can adapt to various match situations and opponent strategies, a valuable asset as they advance in the competition.

5. Semifinal date against Cote d’Ivoire

Topping Group B with an undefeated record boosts Nigeria’s confidence heading into the semifinals.

The Golden Eaglets will avoid hosts Ghana and will only face Group A runners-up Cote d’Ivoire.

While the Ivorians will provide no less a stiff challenge, Nigeria will fancy their chances against the Baby Elephants.

Only the finalists will qualify for the Africa U17 Cup of Nations and the Golden Eaglets are now only one win away from making that important steps for the country and their careers.