GOALKEEPERS:
1-SUNDAY DELE ALAMPASU
CLUB: Football College Academy
BORN: 24.12.96
JERSEY NO: 1
SHIRT NAME: ALAMPASU
A late entrant into the team,
Alampasu’s commanding
presence between the sticks
cemented his position as the
team’s first choice goalkeeper
ahead of the World Cup. An
Indigene of Ondo State in South
West Nigeria, Alampasu helped
College of Football, Abuja to win
the 2013 Karanka Reveria 61st
Invitational Tournament in
Croatia. He’s first born in a
family with three other children.
His favourite club is Chelsea
while goalkeeper Peter Cech
remains his idol.
2-ABDULAZEEZ ABUBAKAR
CLUB: Nathaniel Boys Academy
BORN: 20.07.1999
JERSEY NO: 16
SHIRT NAME: ABDULAZEEZ
Pint-sized goalkeeper noted for
his agility and smartness. Picked
from the National Under-15
team, he’s an introvert who
allows his dexterity in goal
speaks for him. Spain’s 2010
World Cup winning goalkeeper
and captain, Iker Casillas is
Abdulazeez’s favourite.
3-UZOHO FRANCIS ODINAKA
CLUB: Aspire Academy
BORN: 28.10.1998
JERSEY NO: 21
SHIRT NAME: UZOHO
Towering goalkeeper sourced
from Aspire Academy in Qatar.
He started his soccer career at
Campus Academy. He won
medals at handball tournaments
while at Boys Model Secondary
School in Owerri. Two-time
winner of the 2012 and 2013
editions of the Mediterranean
International Cup in Spain with
Aspire’s Team 1998 and 1997
respectively. He’s the son of a
retired school mistress.
DEFENDERS:
4-MUSA MUHAMMED SHEHU
CLUB: FC Heart Academy.
BORN: 31.10.1996
JERSEY NO: 2
SHIRT NAME: MUHAMMED
A workhorse and inspirational
captain picked by Coach Manu
Garba ‘because he combines the
names of two inspired
prophets- Musa (Moses in
Christian) and Muhammed.
Indeed, Musa is a captain
fantastic who leads by example;
he featured in all matches
involving the Golden Eaglets till
date. Cool, calm and confident
player that can play in different
defensive positions. He’s a great
admirer of Carles Puyol, the
Barcelona captain known for
his offensive adventure, which
probably explains why he has
his own fair share of goals with
the Golden Eaglets.
5-ZAHARADDEN BELLO
CLUB: Dabo Babes Academy
BORN: 21.12.1997
JERSEY NO: 19
SHIRT NAME: BELLO
Drafted into the team after an
excellent performance at the
2012 Airtel Rising Stars
Championship in Lagos where
he was voted the best defender.
Nicknamed Baggio by his mum
after the retired Italian
defensive midfielder Dino
Baggio, Zaharadeen is a great
admirer of Thiago Silva- the
Brazilian who plays as a centre
back for Paris Saint-Germain
and the Selecao. Has grown in
stature in the team and all eyes
would be on him as one of the
defensive lines at the World Cup
in the UAE.
6-ALIYU ABUBAKAR AUDU
CLUB: Mutunchi Football
Academy
BORN: 15.06.1996
JERSEY NO: 6
SHIRT NAME: ABUBAKAR
Defensive midfielder who cut
his teeth at Mutunchi Football
Academy in Kaduna. Audu, who
hails from Ankpa Local
Government Area of Kogi State,
is called Handsome Ali back
home but on the pitch he’s
referred to Access Ali for his
ability to provide passes to
open up the rear of opposing
defences. He is the last born in
his family and has four siblings.
7-CHIGOZIE OBASI
CLUB: Fosla Academy
BORN: 15.06.1998
JERSEY NO: 12
SHIRT NAME: OBASI
Obasi hails from Enugu State
but has lived almost all his life in
Ogun State where he recently
came fourth in the Shell Cup for
secondary schools. A graduate
of the national Under-13 and
Under-15 teams, Obasi is
attached to Abuja-based FOSLA
Academy. Last born in a family
with seven other children, Obasi
is known for his bravery on the
pitch but off it, he’s a stand-up
comedian!
8-JAPHAET OLUWASEUN
RAYMOND
CLUB: Nigeria Football
Federation Under-15
BORN: Born: 28.05.1997
JERSEY NO: 15
SHIRT NAME: JAPHAET
Japho is a defender full of brain
coupled with leadership quality.
Apart from being the head boy
while at Kwara Football
Academy, he was the captain of
the soccer school when they
won the Shell Cup in 2012. He
made his breakthrough last
year at the national team level
when he was drafted into the
Under-15 team. An indigene of
Ondo State in South West
Nigeria, he’s the last born of his
mum.

9-DENNIS OKON-NYA
CLUB: Canaan FC Academy
BORN: 1.12.1996
JERSEY NO: 5
SHIRT NAME: NYA
A star in the Cross River State
soccer team that won the silver
medal at the 2012 National
Sports Festival in Nigeria. He
plays for Canaan FC Academy in
Calabar; Okon-Nya is the fourth
child and has five siblings. His
favourite meal is rice and stew
‘because it gives me power!’
10-MUSA YAHAYA
CLUB: Mutunchi Football
Academy
BORN: 16.12.1997
JERSEY NO: 11
SHIRT NAME: YAHAYA
Yahaya was among the goals
for the Golden Eaglets at the
CAN Under-17 Championship in
Morocco where he scored three
goals including a brace against
Tunisia in the semi-finals. He’s is
an introvert who wears his
smile like toothpaste. Started his
career at Mutunchi Football
Academy in Kaduna, Yahaya
adores Real Madrid’s Brazilian
and 2007 World Player of the
Year, Kaka. He’s nicknamed
Iniesta!
11-SAMUEL GODWIN OKON
CLUB: Greater Tomorrow
Academy
BORN: Born: 15.12.1996
JERSEY NO: 3
SHIRT NAME: OKON
Left-footed defender built in the
mould of his favourite French
and Manchester United star,
Patrice Evra. Nicknamed Zamora,
Okon is an indigene of Akwa
Ibom State where he plays for
Greater Tomorrow Youth
Academy.
12-CHIDIEBERE NWAKALI
CLUB: Shuttle Sports Academy
BORN: 26.12.1996
JERSEY NO: 14
SHIRT NAME: NWAKALI
It’s hard to say anything about
this energetic lad without
mentioning his cheeky penalty
kick that cost the Golden Eaglets
dear at the 2013 CAN Under-17
Championship when they ended
with the Silver medal following
a 5-4 penalty loss to Cote
d’Ivoire after 1-1 in regulation
time. But on the bright side,
Nwakali brings so much to the
party and has been an integral
part of the team ever since. He
caught the eyes at the 2012
Airtel Football Competition
where he finished as runner–up
with Imo State.
MIDFIELDERS:
13-AKINJIDE IDOWU
CLUB: Nathaniel Boys Academy
BORN: 09.09.1996
JERSEY NO: 4
SHIRT NAME: IDOWU
A Trojan in the midfield and a
fulcrum in the silver medal-
winning team at the CAN
Under-17 Championship in
Morocco. He featured in all the
Golden Eaglets’ six qualifying
matches to book the ticket for
the 2013 CAN Under-17
tournament in Morocco as well
as playing in all the five matches
at the Championship proper. He
was a runner-up with National
Foundation Academy of Delta
State during the 2012 Shell Cup
tournament. He polished his skill
at the Calabar Soccer Academy.
His favourite meal is fried rice
with chicken.
14-SALIHU ALI-BABA
CLUB: Rangers Academy Bida
BORN: 10.08.1997
JERSEY NO: 14
SHIRT NAME: SALIHU
Former captain of the National
Under-15 team who
represented Nigeria at the 2010
Copa Coca-Cola tournament in
South Africa. He’s the sixth-born
of a family with nine (four boys
and five girls) children. He hails
from Bida in Niger State. His
Nigerian favourite is Osaze
Odemwingie because ‘he’s very
mobile.’ Known for tranquillity
and leadership quality, UAE
2013 offers him the chance to
prove he’s a real deal.
15- GODWIN SAVIOUR
CLUB: El-Kadme Academy
BORN: 22.08.1996
JERSEY NO: 13
SHIRT NAME: GODWIN
Saviour is a native of Obudu in
Cross River State but he would
be the first to tell you that he
acquires his cosmopolitan
outlook having being bred in
Jos- a city with a rich soccer
history having produced the
likes of John Mikel Obi; Obinna
Nsofor, Musa Ahmed amongst
others. But Saviour’s dream is to
make a name for himself right
from his first days at FC Sport of
Jos; he’s a winger who on a
good day could be as
mesmerising as his favourite
Super Eagles’ star, Victor Moses.

16-ALFA ABDULLAHI
CLUB: Football College Academy
BORN: 29.07.1996
JERSEY NO: 8
SHIRT NAME: ALFA
Natural playmaker nicknamed
Goma which means figure ten
in Hausa language. Blooded at
the Stallions Academy in
Kaduna, Abdullahi is an
indigene of Niger State. He
polished his skill at the model
College of Football in Abuja
(COFA) where he is currently the
team’s captain.
He came second with Nigeria at
the 2011 Copa Coca Cola
Tournament in London but
helped COFA to become the first
African team to win the Karanka
Reveria Invitational Tournament
in Croatia this year. Though an
admirer of the trio of Zinedine
Zidane, Andreas Iniesta and
Xavi, Abdullahi’s favourite player
is Chelsea’s Nigerian midfield
enforcer, John Mikel Obi.
17-HABIB MAKANJUOLA
CLUB: Chelsea FC
BORN: 19.04.199
JERSEY NO: 7
SHIRT NAME: MAKANJUOLA
The only addition from Europe;
Makanjuola ‘s wizardry is well
noted after he dazzled at the
2010 Red Bull Street Soccer
Championship to emerge the
best youngest player at the
tournament. He’s a 2011/2012
winner of the Under-15 league
in England. He is expectedly a
fan of Chelsea FC with Frank
Lampard and Barcelona’s Xavi
as his favourite players.
Commands the respect of
teammates ‘because he’s a
humble guy.’
STRIKERS:
18-CHIDERA EZEH:
CLUB: River Lane Academy
BORN: 02.10.1997
JERSEY NO: 17
SHIRT NAME: EZEH
Natural goal scorer nicknamed
baby-faced assassin. One of the
success stories from the NFF’s
catch-them-young policy. He
was the star striker at both the
National Under-13 and
Under-15 levels.
Ezeh has eyes for goals and has
led River Lane Academy of
Enugu to several conquests.
Ezeh’s favourite player is no
other person than Chelsea’s
Spanish striker, Fernando
Torres and he’s the first to
score a hat trick for the Golden
Eaglets in the 3-0 spanking of
Junior Wasps of Rwanda in an
International Friendly last
September ahead of the 2013
CAN Under-17 Championship in
Morocco.
19-SUCCESS ISAAC
CLUB: BJ Foundation Academy
BORN: 07.01.1996
JERSEY NO: 9
SHIRT NAME: SUCCESS
Nicknamed Nasarah by Coach
Manu Garba-which means
success in an Arabic and Hausa
languages. Indeed, Nasarah
needs little introduction having
emerged top scorer with seven
goals during the CAN Under-17
Championship in Morocco last
April. The striker was snapped
from famous Megap Soccer
Academy (now known as B-J
Foundation) in Benin which
incidentally produced Super
Eagles’ Elderson Echiejile. A
great admirer of four-time
African Footballer of the Year,
Samuel Eto’o, he is also the
team’s overall top scorer having
scored 32 goals in 42 matches
on the road to the 2013 UAE
FIFA Under-17 World Cup.
20-KELECHI IHEANACHO
CLUB: Taye Academy
BORN: 03.10.1996
JERSEY NO: 10
SHIRT NAME: IHEANACHO
He was the second highest goal
scorer with five goals behind
Success Isaac at the CAN
Under-17 Championship in
Morocco last April. Iheanacho is
regarded as a player with huge
potentialities starting from his
days the National Under-13
from where he progressed to
the Under-15 team national
team. Started his career with
Taye Academy in Owerri, he has
29 goals under his belt for the
Golden Eaglets
21-TAIWO AWONIYI
CLUB: Imperial Soccer Academy
BORN: 12.08.1997
JERSEY NO: 18
SHIRT NAME: AWONIYI
Hardworking striker who was
drafted from the National
Under-15 team that missed the
Adidas Tournament in Mexico
last year. Taiwo has blossomed
in the Golden Eaglets, scoring a
brace on his debut against
Botswana in an international
friendly match. Enlisted at the
Imperial Soccer Academy,
Odogbolu in Ogun state where
he started his budding career.
Awoniyi can equally function
effectively in other positions
except goalkeeping!

Success Isaac our goal machine