Former Golden Eaglets player and 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup winner Joshua Daniel has urged the interim leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation to give the current U-17 team and its coaches maximum support ahead of their upcoming international assignment.
Daniel believes proper preparation will be crucial if Nigeria are to end their recent struggles in the cadet category and return to the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations and FIFA U-17 World Cup.
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His comments come after Nigeria were drawn in Group B alongside Côte d’Ivoire and Niger in the upcoming WAFU-B U-17 Championship, where the Golden Eaglets will be seeking a strong campaign.
The former Eaglets star stressed that the team must not be left to prepare at the last minute, insisting that adequate planning, quality training and competitive matches are essential to producing the desired results.
He also called on the NFF to allow the technical crew to make the right selection of players, arguing that the coaches must be given the freedom and resources required to build a competitive squad.
Nigeria’s recent failure to qualify for the U-17 AFCON and World Cup has raised concerns, particularly given the country’s remarkable history in the age-grade competition.
Daniel believes that history can only be restored through deliberate planning and serious investment in the current generation.
For the 2007 world champion, the priority now should be clear: prepare properly, select the best players and give the coaches the support they need to return Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets to the global stage.
