The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has strengthened the technical crew of the Nigeria U-23 national team, the Olympic Eagles, with the appointment of veteran football coach and talent developer Ahmed Lawal Dankoli as Chief Scout.

Dankoli officially assumed his duties on Thursday at the team's training camp in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, stepping directly into preparations for the upcoming 2028 Olympic Games qualifiers against DR Congo.

A Proven Track Record in Youth Development

With decades of experience spanning grassroots development, professional club management, and national team setups, Dankoli is widely regarded for his expertise in talent identification.

His leadership background features notable coaching stints, including:

Abuja Football College: Serving as Head Coach since 2012 (an institution affiliated with Croatia's HNB Rijeka, now based in Port Harcourt).

Ranchers Bees FC: Head Coach from 2002 to 2004.

Sokoto Football Academy: Head Coach in 2005, leading the side to an international tournament in the Czech Republic.

NPFL U-17 All-Stars: Head Coach in 2019.

National Team Experience

Dankoli is no stranger to the national setup, having built a robust resume across multiple age-grade categories:

U-15 National Team: Assistant Coach (2019, Japan Youth Invitational Tournament).

U-17 National Team: Assistant Coach (2020 and 2022).

U-23 National Team: Assistant Coach (2023).

 U-20 National Team: Assistant Coach (2024).

As a former professional player with experience across Nigeria, Asia, and Europe, Dankoli brings a unique player-first perspective to scouting. Through his work at Abuja Football College—which has organized annual European tours and exposure programs since 2014—he has helped channel more than 100 players into the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) and top European leagues, with over 40 currently competing in Europe.

Furthermore, several of his protégé talents have advanced through national ranks, with more than five earning senior Super Eagles caps over the past three years.

As the Olympic Eagles set their sights on securing a ticket to the 2028 Olympic Games, Dankoli's appointment injects vital grassroots insight and elite developmental capability into Nigeria's youth football structure.