The Nigeria Football Federation has announced the appointments of Manu Garba and Moses Aduku as head coaches of the Golden Eaglets and Falconets, respectively.
Garba’s return to the U-17 national team marks his third stint in charge of the Golden Eaglets, following his time with the team last year.
The highly respected tactician famously guided Nigeria to U-17 World Cup glory in 2013 and the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations trophy two years later, cementing his legacy as one of the continent’s most successful youth coaches.
His reappointment was approved by the NFF Executive Committee based on recommendations from the Technical and Development subcommittee.
Garba also led Nigeria to the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Brazil and has consistently nurtured talents who have gone on to represent the senior national team.
His latest mission will be to guide the Golden Eaglets through the upcoming WAFU B U-17 tournament, which Nigeria will host later this year.
On the women’s front, Aduku takes the reins as the new head coach of the Falconets, Nigeria’s U-20 women’s national team, replacing Chris Danjuma, who oversaw the team’s run at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia.
Aduku, currently head coach of Edo Queens, has a strong résumé in women’s football, having previously managed Bayelsa Queens and served as an assistant coach with the Falconets during their 2022 quarter-final finish at the U-20 World Cup in Costa Rica.
Both coaches are set to officially assume duties this weekend as preparations begin in earnest, with the Falconets facing Rwanda in a crucial 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifying match in September, whilst the Golden Eaglets will aim to reclaim regional dominance at the WAFU B tournament, also scheduled for September.
