THE Nigeria Football Federation has announced the appointments of Abdu Maikaba and Eboboritse Uwejamomere as head coaches of the men’s national U-20 team and the U-17 boys national team respectively.
News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the appointments of Maikaba and Uwejamomere followed a major reshuffling of the technical and backroom staff of Nigeria’s age-grade national football teams.
“The Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation has endorsed the recommendation of the Federation’s Technical and Development Committee for the appointments of Abdu Maikaba and Eboboritse Uwejamomere as head coaches of the U20 and U17 Boys National Teams,” the NFF announced on Thursday.
Abdu Maikaba, who has managed several of Nigeria’s top football clubs, previously handled the U-17 boys national team, the Golden Eaglets.
He also served as assistant coach of the U-20 national team, Flying Eagles, during the period Paul Aigbogun was head coach.
The soft-spoken tactician has worked with some of the country’s biggest clubs, including Enyimba FC, Wikki Tourists, Kano Pillars and Plateau United.
Maikaba is also remembered for leading Akwa United FC to victory in the country’s oldest and most prestigious football competition, now known as the President Federation Cup, in 2017.
Meanwhile, Eboboritse Uwejamomere takes over as head coach of the five-time world champions, the Golden Eaglets.
Uwejamomere has served for several years as coach-analyst with the senior men’s national team, the Nigeria national football team.
He is currently head of academy at Sporting Lagos FC, which recently secured promotion back to the Nigeria Premier Football League.
The new Golden Eaglets coach also previously worked as analyst with the senior women’s national team, the Nigeria women’s national football team.
In addition, he served as academy youth development coach at Millwall FC, Gillingham FC and Nottingham Forest FC in England.
Uwejamomere was also head coach of Abeokuta-based Stormers FC.
According to reports, he emerged ahead of Beyond Limits coach Olumide Ajibolade and Plateau United manager Shola Adegun to secure the appointment.
Following recent changes in the technical crew of the female age-grade national teams, the national U-23 team is now reportedly the only side yet to experience changes in its coaching setup.
Reports also indicate that former Super Eagles players Samson Siasia and Daniel Amokachi are currently in contention for the U-23 coaching job ahead of the qualifiers for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.