Former Golden Eaglets Coach Blames Poor Preparation, Interference for Nigeria’s U-17 Struggles

Former Golden Eaglets head coach John Obuh has attributed Nigeria’s recent struggles at the U-17 level to inadequate preparation and persistent external interference in team affairs.

Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations—a competition that also serves as a pathway to the FIFA U-17 World Cup—raising further concerns about the country’s declining performance in youth football.

Obuh stressed that appointing experienced coaches alone would not resolve the issue. According to him, success at the youth level depends largely on structured planning and consistent preparation.

“Bringing back coaches like Emmanuel Amuneke, who have previously succeeded with the team, is not the problem. What matters is the level of attention and support given to them,” he said.

“If the team is properly managed and prepared with a clear focus on results, success will follow.”

The veteran coach also raised concerns about undue influence in player selection, pointing to interference from agents and football administrators.

“There are too many interruptions in the selection process today. Many individuals want specific players included, and issues such as nepotism and tribal considerations come into play,” Obuh stated.

He urged coaches to assert their authority and select players strictly on merit, free from external pressure.

“We need coaches who can take responsibility and stand by their decisions. A coach should be able to say, ‘This is my team—if I fail, then I can be held accountable.’ Unfortunately, many are influenced by those who appointed them,” he added.

Obuh warned that the lack of accountability often leads to blame-shifting when results fall short, ultimately undermining progress.

Drawing from his experience, he reiterated that granting technical crews full autonomy—alongside proper preparation—is essential to restoring Nigeria’s dominance in youth football.

Obuh notably guided Nigeria to a runner-up finish at the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup, one of the country’s standout achievements at the youth level.

Samuel Ahmadu

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.

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