Flying Eagles, Golden Eaglets set for camp return ahead of future tournaments
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has mapped out plans to revive its men’s youth national teams, with the Flying Eagles expected to resume camping in July and the Golden Eaglets following in September as part of early preparations for upcoming international assignments.
According to a camping schedule made available to Savidnews, the Flying Eagles will be the first to reconvene, a move designed to give the U-20 side ample preparation time ahead of future continental competitions.
The development comes even though the federation is yet to appoint substantive head coaches for both teams.
Applications for the vacant U-20 and U-17 coaching roles were only submitted earlier this week, with the NFF stating that successful candidates will be announced after ratification by its Executive Board.
A source explained that the staggered resumption plan was deliberately structured to ensure both teams have sufficient time to build cohesion and prepare adequately for their respective championships.
Interestingly, there will be no WAFU B U-20 Championship in 2026, following the last edition held in May 2025, which served as qualifiers for the FIFA U-20 World Cup. The Confederation of African Football has already confirmed that the next U-20 Africa Cup of Nations will hold in 2027, with subsequent editions scheduled for 2029 and 2031.
Meanwhile, attention will also be on the U-17 category, although Nigeria will not feature at the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations scheduled to take place in Morocco from April 25 to May 15.
The country’s Golden Eaglets, five time world champions, failed to secure qualification for the tournament, which will also serve as a pathway to the 2027 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
The planned return to camp signals the federation’s determination to rebuild and reposition Nigeria’s youth teams for future continental and global success.
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