The Nigerian U17 team is the most successful in that age cadre having won the tournament a record 5 times in the past. With this, expectations are always very high on any coach saddled with the responsibility of leading the team to International competitions as there are no other new achievements other than producing nothing short of what has been achieved in the past.
Present coach of the Nigerian U17 team, Coach Nduka Ugbade recently qualified the team to the under 17 nation’s cup where he is expected to in turn qualifies for the world cup having conquered a segment of other West African counterparts but still has a lot to do to register his name in the good books of football lovers.
Undoubtedly, the 2013 set of the Nigerian U17 left a big shoe for their successors and arguably the most successful U17 team that has been produced in Nigeria if performance is anything to go by. Former coach of the Golden Eaglets and coach of the much talked about 2013 U17 team, Manu Garba has come out to charge the present U17 team to do well in their forthcoming outings.
The experienced coach has also flashed back saying it will be tough to perform like the 2013 team. He is of the opinion that the 2013 team is the best U17 that has ever represented Nigeria as no team can match or even beat the record set by him and his team.
The 2013 U17 team which produced the likes of Isaac Success, Kelechi Iheanachor, and Taiwo Awoniyi still remains the best. The gaffer stated. ” I think without sentiment, it will be difficult to surpass the achievement of the 2013 team. That team is very competitive. If you watch the tournament very well, you will see that it was very difficult to get a starting shirt on the 2013 team. you will discover that the team scored 26 goals in seven matches. No other team has done that kind of thing. That was the best team ever for any country in the under 17 level”
The U17 tournament which was hosted in the United Arab Emirates was the 15th tournament and Nigeria’s 4th title after defeating Mexico 3-0 in the final. The closest to achieving this is the Brasil U17 team that has won the tournament four times.
