Eaglets to Eagles: For every Kanu a triple ‘can’t rule’
Meet Nwankwo Kanu aka Papilo.
He won the FIFA U-17 World Cup with the Golden Eaglets in 1993.
He won the Olympics with the Dream Team in 1996.
He played at the World Cup with Super Eagles in 1998 and 2002.
He captained the Super Eagles.
He was voted the best player in Africa in 1996 and 1999.
He never scored at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Well, you can erase that last part from your memory because Nwankwo Kanu remains the most successful Nigerian Golden Eaglet.
A few players have come close – John Obi Mikel, Joseph Yobo to mention just two in a thin list.
But a lot fizzled out after dazzling the world at the FIFA U-17 World Cup. Let’s do a roll call from the first set who won in 1985 to the last set who also triumphed in 2013.
1985
Lucky Agbonsevafe, Tenworimi Duere, Nduka Ugbade, Fatai Atere, Binabei Numa, Kingsley Aikhionbore, Salisu Nakade, Sani Adamu, Jonathan Akpoborie, Victor Igbinoba, Bella Momoh, Imama Amapakabor, Baudwin Bazuaye, Joseph Babatunde, Chukwuma Nwoha, Mohamed Yahaya, Hilary Adiki, Dele Abubakar
Eaglet to Eagle: Nduka Ugbade, Jonathan Akpoborie, Baudwin Bazuaye
Eaglet to “successful” Eagle: Nduka Ugbade
1987
Angus Ikeji, Tonworimi Duere, Baba Jibrin, Fatai Atere, Eli Ayuba, Taiwo Enegwea, Oladuni Oyekale, Albert Eke, Oladimeji Lawal, Olusegun Fetuga, Anthony Emoedofu, Lemmy Isa, Peter Ogaba, Christopher Nwosu, Charles Obazee, Bawa Abdullahi, Philip Osondu, Sarafa Salami
Eaglet to Eagle: Oladimeji Lawal, Anthony Emoedofu, Bawa Abdullahi, Philip Osondu
Eaglet to “successful” Eagle: None
1989
Andrew Aikhuomogbe, Babajide Oguntunase, Bobolayefa Edon, Nura Muhammed, Bala Boyi, Precious Monye, Kayode Keshiro, Patrick Mancha, Sunny Umoru, Olusegun Fetuga, Victor Ikpeba, Lemmy Isa, John Agum, Aondofa Akosu, Godwin Okpara, Chiedu Anazonwu, Benedict Akwuegbu, John Saki
Eaglet to Eagle: Precious Monye, Kayode Keshinro, Patrick Mancha, Victor Ikpeba, Godwin Okpara, Benedict Akwuegbu
Eaglet to “successful” Eagle: Victor Ikpeba
1991 – Did not qualify
1993
Emmanuel Babayaro, Mobi Oparaku, Celestine Babayaro, Pascal Ojigwe, Charles Okonedo, Blessing Anyanwu, Manga Mohammed, Nwankwo Kanu, Festus Odini, Wilson Oruma, Sambo Choji, Emmanuel Okhenoboh, Ibrahim Babangida, Festus Okuogha, Elokha Asokuh, Abiodun Ogbebor, Peter Anosike, Destiny Iyonu
Eaglet to Eagle: Mobi Oparaku, Celestine Babayaro, Pascal Ojigwe, Nwankwo Kanu, Wilson Oruma
Eaglet to “successful” Eagle: Celestine Babayaro, Nwankwo Kanu, Wilson Oruma
1995
Olusegun Adeyemi, Chiedu Chukwueke, Haruna Abubakar, Igeniwari George, Godfrey Nwankpa, Joseph Yobo, James Igwilo, James Obiorah, Edward Anyamkygh, Olatubosun Ayeni, Emmanuel Nwakire, Munonye Chijoke, Kingsley Samuel, Kingsley Amuneke, Henry Onwuzuruike, Sampson Udofia, Johnson Oruma, Kazeem Ashimolowo
Eaglet to Eagle: Joseph Yobo,
Eaglet to “successful” Eagle: Joseph Yobo
1997 – Did not qualify
1999 – Did not qualify
2001
Oaze Uweluyi, Kennedy Chinwo, Ndala Ibrahim, Emmanuel Baba, Joseph Eyimofe, Richard Eromoigbe, Karimu Shaibu, Austine Nnamdi, Moses Ayuba, Victor Brown, Femi Opabunmi, Ifeanyi Ugo, Soga Sambo, Kazeem Babatunde, Cyril Gona, Omonigho Temile, Suleiman Mohanned, Akpan Bassey
Eaglet to Eagle: Femi Opabunmi
Eaglet to “successful” Eagle: None
2003
Ambrose Vanzekin, Efe Unukpo, Awwalu Aminu, Omoh Attah, Nkem Ovunwo, Echezona Anyichie, Emmanuel Sarki, Ezekiel Bala, Promise Isaac, John Obi Mikel, Chinedu Obasi, Mustapha Salihu, Solomon Okoronkwo, Kola Anubi, Chamberlain Ekrebe, Chijioke Ebigbo, Charles Amaihwe, Morufu Adetoro, John Egharevba, Tope Okeowo
Eaglet to Eagle: Promise Isaac, John Obi Mikel, Chinedu Obasi
Eaglet to “successful” Eagle: John Obi Mikel
2005 – Did not qualify
2007
Laide Okanlawon, Oladele Ajiboye, Uche Okafor, Ganiyu Oseni, Usman Amodu, Azeez Balogun, Kingsley Udoh, Daniel Joshua, Matthew Edile, Rabiu Ibrahim, Lukman Abdulkarim, Sheriff Isa, Mustapha Ibrahim, Uremu Egbeta, Ademola Rafael, Saheed Fabiyi, Lukman Haruna, King Osanga, Kabiru Akinsola, Macauley Chrisantus, Yakubu Alfa
Eaglet to Eagle: Rabiu Ibrahim, Lukman Haruna
Eaglet to “successful” Eagle: None
2009
Dami Paul, Amos Izuchukwu, John Felagha, Aigbe Oliha, Mohammed Aliyu, Fortune Chukwudi, Kenneth Omeruo, Chukwujike Mgbam, Ogenyi Onazi, White Agwuocha, Abdul Ajagun, Obinna Okoro, Deji Joel, Ramon Azeez, Stanley Okoro, Olarenwaju Kayode, Terry Envoh, Omoh Ojabu, Sani Emmanuel, Yusuf Otubanjo, Edafe Egbedi
Eaglet to Eagle: Kenneth Omeruo, Ogenyi Onazi, Ramon Azeez
Eaglet to “successful” Eagle: Kenneth Omeruo, Ogenyi Onazi
2011 – Did not qualify
2013
Dele Alampasu, Abdulazeez Abubakar, Francis Uzoho, Musa Muhammed, Samuel Okon, Denis Nya, Aliyu Abubakar, Chidiebere Nwakali, Raymond Japhet, Zaharaddeen Bello, Akinjide Idowu, Habib Makanjuola, Abdullahi Alfa, Musa Yahaya, Chigozi Obasi, Saviour Godwin, Baba Salihu, Success Isaac, Kelechi Iheanacho, Chidera Ezeh, Taiwo Awoniyi
Eaglet to “potential” Eagle: Dele Alampasu, Musa Muhammed, Chidiebere Nwakali, Zaharaddeen Bello, Abdullahi Alfa, Musa Yahaya, Saviour Godwin, Success Isaac, Kelechi Iheanacho, Taiwo Awoniyi
Prophetic words?
“You will one day become the national senior team,” Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari, told Nduka Ugbade and co. in 1985 when he received them after the triumph in China.
With only a few players to have transformed from Eaglets to Eagles like King Nwankwo Kanu, Victor Osimhen and his 2015 set need to panic and ponder on this statement.
The president may well tell them same words if they beat Mali on Sunday. But the statement can only be prophetic if they take to these “suggestions” of ours and end up like King Kanu.
Read that and more in our next instalment as we countdown to Sunday’s final.
Just because a player shows potential at 16 or 17 does not mean that they will become successful international players. Most teams for ALL countries have maybe one or two that will go on to represent their senior team.
Most countries have maybe one or two in a generation that truly grow to be successful with the senior team.
Nigeria is at par for successful converts from U17 to senior team with Brazil, Spain, England and any successful team. There may be a blip with one or two squads over the past 20 years, however, that is an anomaly and very far from normal