The coach Manu Garba lead Nigeria U17 team of 2016 presently boast of more players plying their trade abroad than the Emmanuel Amuneke lead squad of 2015 who were crowned champions at the World Youth Championship in Chile.
A search by Owngoalnigeria.com transfer expert Daniel Martins showed that while the boys of Manu Garba who failed to qualify for the African Youth Championship last year have ten players who have moved abroad, just nine have progressed from the Amuneke lead title winning team of 2015.
According to Martins, the Amuneke lead Eaglet of 2015 lost their way after winning the World Cup with most of them chasing lucrative deals abroad, which didn’t materialise unlike the Manu lead set of 2015.
It is worthy to note that the essence of the U17 championship according to World Soccer governing body FIFA is for development of young players and not necessarily about winning the title.
List of 2015 Eaglet in Europe :
1. Victor Osimhen ( Wolfsburg, Germany)
2. Orji Okonkwo ( Bologna, Italy)
3. Kingsley Michael ( Bologna, Italy)
4. Samuel Chukwueze ( Villarreal, Spain)
5. Funsho Bamgboye ( Halada, Hungary)
6. Akpan Udoh ( Bnei Sakhnin, Israel)
7. Kelechi Nwakali ( MVV Maastricht, Holland)
8. Sunday Alimi ( Galatasary, Turkey)
9. Joel Osikel ( Domzale, Slovenia)
List of 2016 Eaglet In Europe
1. Umeh Chigozie ( Sparta Prague, Czech Republic)
2. Emmanuel Kuku ( FC Porto, Portugal)
3. Sani Abduljabbar ( Vizela, Portugal)
4. David Emmanuel ( Kuban Krasnodar, Russia)
5. Zakari Yaro ( Vizela, Portugal)
6. Chidera Ejike ( Valerenga, Norway)
7. Igho Ogbu ( Rosenborg, Norway)
8. Saad Abubakar ( Valerenga, Norway)
9. Abdularazak Isheq ( Norrkoping, Sweden)
10. Isah Musa ( FC Porto, Portugal)
