Ex-Nottingham Forest youth coach lands Golden Eaglets job as NFF names new Flying Eagles boss

The Nigeria Football Federation has confirmed the appointments of Abdu Maikaba and Eboboritse Uwejamomere as the new head coaches of the Flying Eagles and Golden Eaglets, Afrik-Foot reports.

The decisions were approved by the NFF Executive Committee after recommendations from the federation’s Technical and Development Committee, with both men now tasked with leading Nigeria into the next international youth competition cycle.

Maikaba takes charge of the Flying Eagles following the departure of Aliyu Zubairu, who guided the side to the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile. The experienced coach is no stranger to Nigerian football or the national team set-up.

Over the years, he has handled some of the country’s biggest clubs, including Enyimba FC, Kano Pillars, Plateau United and Wikki Tourists. One of the biggest moments of his coaching career came in 2017 when he led Akwa United to victory in the President Federation Cup, Nigeria’s oldest domestic competition.

Maikaba also has previous experience with Nigeria’s youth national teams. He once coached the Golden Eaglets and later worked as assistant coach of the Flying Eagles under former head coach Paul Aigbogun.

The NFF will hope that experience becomes important as Nigeria attempt to return strongly on the continental and global stage after mixed results in recent tournaments.

New era begins for Golden Eaglets

Perhaps the most eye-catching appointment is that of 29-year-old Eboboritse Uwejamomere, who replaces Manu Garba as Golden Eaglets coach.

Uwejamomere arrives with a background that combines analysis, academy development and international exposure. He has worked with the Super Eagles and Super Falcons as a match analyst and has spent recent years helping develop young players at club level.

He is currently head of academy at Sporting Lagos, the Lagos-based club that recently secured promotion back to the Nigeria Premier Football League.

Before returning to Nigeria, Uwejamomere worked in England with youth systems at Nottingham Forest, Millwall FC and Gillingham FC. He also coached Abeokuta side Stormers FC.

His appointment comes at a difficult moment for the Golden Eaglets. Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2026 U17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco after losing to Ghana in the semi-finals of the WAFU B qualifying tournament in 2025. That defeat also ended the country’s hopes of reaching the U17 World Cup.

The task in front of Uwejamomere is therefore clear. He must rebuild quickly ahead of the next qualification series, beginning with the WAFU B U17 Championship in the 2026-27 cycle.

Nigeria will need to progress there to reach the 2027 U17 AFCON and eventually the FIFA U17 World Cup in Qatar.

Maikaba faces a similar challenge with the Flying Eagles. Nigeria’s next target is qualification through the WAFU B U20 Championship before attention turns to the 2027 U20 AFCON and the FIFA U20 World Cup in Poland.