Former Nigeria midfielder Sani Kaita has taken a significant step into the next phase of his football career, formally applying for the head coach position of the Nigeria national under-17 football team.
Kaita, a veteran of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, is no stranger to representing Nigeria on the global stage. Renowned during his playing days for his strength, aggression and commanding midfield presence, he earned multiple caps for the Super Eagles and built a professional career that spanned Europe and the Middle East, gaining exposure to diverse tactical systems and football cultures.
Now 38, the former international is channeling that wealth of experience into youth development. Armed with a UEFA B License obtained through the Football Association of Wales, Kaita has been actively involved in grassroots and academy football in the United Kingdom, contributing to the technical and psychological growth of young players in competitive environments.
Speaking on his ambition, Kaita emphasized that the time has come to give back to Nigerian football by helping shape the next generation within a disciplined, high-performance structure. Confident in his leadership qualities and eye for talent, he believes he can assemble a Golden Eaglets side capable of restoring pride and sustaining Nigeria’s proud legacy at youth level.
His candidacy introduces an experienced international perspective into the conversation as the country seeks to reposition its youth football framework for long-term success.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
