Former Monaco and Nigeria star applies for Golden Eaglets job

Former Super Eagles midfielder Sani Kaita has officially applied for the vacant head coach position of Nigeria’s U-17 national team, the Golden Eaglets, Afrik-Foot reports.

The coaching position became available after the Nigeria Football Federation invited applications for several youth national team roles as part of efforts to rebuild the country’s development structure.

Kaita, who represented Nigeria at senior international level and played at the FIFA World Cup, believes he has the experience and passion needed to guide young players toward success.

The Golden Eagles have failed to qualify for the last two editions of the U17 World Cup and missed out on the 2025 Africa U17 Cup of Nations. Former Monaco man Kaita is convinced he has what it takes to turnaround the fortunes of the five-time world champions.

“I can confirm that I have applied for the U-17 coaching job,” said Kaita as per ThisDay. “It is time for me to share my expertise and develop our youth players within a positive, high-performance environment.”

The former midfielder, currently based in the United Kingdom, highlighted his European football background and coaching preparation. He previously played for clubs such as AS Monaco and Sparta Rotterdam, while also earning a UEFA B coaching licence through the Football Association of Wales.

“I have spent the last few years working specifically with young players, focusing on player development and success,” he noted.

“I am confident in my ability and promise to assemble a team that Nigerians will be proud of.”

Golden Eaglets: Is Sani Kaita the man for the job?

Kaita’s move into coaching follows a long playing career that took him across Europe and beyond. Born in Kano, he first gained global attention at the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup, where he played every match for Nigeria and helped the Flying Eagles win silver.

He later featured for the senior national team and made his debut in 2005. Kaita also represented Nigeria at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, finishing with another silver medal.

His professional journey included spells across Russia, Ukraine, Greece, Finland, and Nigeria, playing for teams such as Lokomotiv Moscow, Metalist Kharkiv, Iraklis, Enyimba and RoPS. He eventually transitioned into mentoring younger players, a path he says has been carefully planned.

Currently attached to Hellenic FC within the United Kingdom youth football system, the 39-year-old hopes his experience as both a Nigerian international and European-based professional will help him shape the next generation of Golden Eaglets stars.

If successful, the former midfielder would take charge of one of Nigeria’s most historic youth teams; a side famous for producing future Super Eagles legends and winning multiple FIFA U-17 World Cups.