New Flying Eagles head coach Abdu Maikaba has revealed that his immediate priority is to launch a nationwide scouting programme aimed at identifying talented young players for Nigeria’s U-20 team.
Speaking after officially taking charge, Maikaba stressed that building a competitive squad quickly will require extensive talent discovery across the country.
“Scouting begins immediately,” he said.
According to the coach, the main objective is to identify players within the required age bracket who possess the quality and mentality needed to compete at international level.
“We must find the right players,” he implied.
Maikaba emphasized that Nigeria remains rich in football talent and expressed confidence that enough quality exists to assemble a strong Flying Eagles squad.
“The talents are there,” he noted.
The former club manager also highlighted the importance of acting quickly due to the limited time available before upcoming competitions.
“We have to move fast,” he added.
For Maikaba, successful youth football starts with proper player identification and structured preparation.
“You cannot build without scouting,” he stressed.
He also expressed optimism that the group being assembled can restore pride to Nigerian youth football.
“We want to make Nigerians proud,” he said.
Nigeria’s U-20 team has faced increased scrutiny following recent disappointments, placing significant pressure on the new technical crew.
For Maikaba, the message is clear.
Search nationwide.
Identify quality early.
And build a competitive team.
Because successful youth football begins with discovering the right talent at the right time.
