On November 8, 2013, Nigeria – under the watch of coach Manu Garba - won a fourth Fifa U17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates, defeating Mexico 3-0 in the final played at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Kelechi Iheanacho, Taiwo Awoniyi, Isaac Success and Francis Uzoho were a part of that Golden Eaglets squad who have now grown to become men.
While Iheanacho won the FA Cup with Leicester City and has featured in the Uefa Champions League and Europa League, Awoniyi became a hit with Union Berlin.
The West Africans were the most dominant side in that World Cup campaign where they scored 26 goals in seven games.
Among others, they hit Mexico for six in the preliminary round, while scoring five goals against Iraq.
Kelechi Iheanacho – FW
Iheanacho was one of the stars of the competition – winning the Golden Boot as well as the Silver Ball for scoring six goals and producing seven assists, including a goal in the final.
He was signed by Manchester City thereafter, however, he was shipped to Leicester City following his inability to break into Pep Guardiola’s squad.
At the King Power Stadium, he made a sluggish start to life but bounced back to become a key figure in Brendan Rodgers’ team.
In the 2020-21 campaign, he propelled the Foxes to win the FA Cup for the first time in their history.
Akinjide Idowu – MF
Idowu played all matches for Nigeria at the U17 World Cup and was an integral part of that title-winning squad.
A Nath Boys Academy youth product, the midfielder, after the World Cup, played for Portland Timbers 2.
Following a failed expedition in the United States, he went further to play for Speranța Nisporeni (Moldova), Palanga (Lithuania), Atlantas Klaipėda (Lithuania) and currently represents Asswehly SC in Libya.
>Chidera Ezeh - FW
Ezeh came through Porto's youth system and after that, he was promoted to the Porto B team ahead of the 2016-17 campaign but did not play a single game.
However, it was at new club Portimonense he made his professional debut in a Segunda Liga fixture versus Braga B on November 20, 2016.
Failing to justify the reason for his purchase, he was loaned back to Porto B for the 2017-18 season.
The 24-year-old currently represents Agueda – a fourth division side in Portugal.
Taiwo Awoniyi – FW
The Union Berlin striker was one of the Golden Eaglets’ standout players at the U17 World Cup in UAE.
He accounted for four goals which included a brace against Uruguay in the quarter-final.
His impressive performances caught the attention of Liverpool, joined them in 2015 for a fee of around £400,000.
However, he was loaned to FSV Frankfurt, NEC, Mouscron, Gent and Mainz before joining the Berlin-based side on a permanent deal following an impressive loan spell.
Isaac Success – FW
Prior to the commencement of the competition, the forward was banked on to get the goals for Manu Garba’s boys.
However, his tournament was short-lived due to injury worries. Regardless, he found the net two times – against Mexico and Sweden - all in the group stage.
After graduating from Granada’s youth system, he played a few matches for the senior team before heading to Watford in a record transfer fee at that time.
He endured a torrid spell at the Vicarage Stadium due to recurring injury problems. In 2021, Success signed for Italian club Udinese on a three-year deal.
Habib Makanjuola – MF
The Chelsea youth team product was one of the youngest players in Manu’s team at 14 years of age.
His only game in the championship was in the 6-1 drubbing of Mexico – where he featured for just eight minutes as an 82nd-minute replacement for Iheanacho.
Since then, nothing has been heard about the youngster who appears to have dumped the beautiful game after a failed expedition at Leicester City's youth team.
Baba Salihu – MF
He did not play a single match in the tournament and is currently unattached to any team. He last featured for Rangers Academy Bida.
Saviour Godwin – MF
Godwin played in all Golden Eaglets games except one in the global football showpiece.
After the competition, he joined Belgian side KV Oostende on a three-year contract. He did not see out his contract as he teamed up with Roeselare the following season.
Godwin currently represents Casa Pia in the Portuguese second tier.
Chigozi Obasi - MF
Notwithstanding two cameo appearances at the competition, Obasi found the net once against Iraq. He is one of the few members of the victorious squad plying their trades in the NPFL.
After spells at Osun United, Sunshine Stars, Lobi Stars and Nasarawa United, he joined two-time African kings Enyimba in September 2021.
Abdullahi Alfa – MF
Despite his immense talent, Alfa is enjoying his quiet career at Estonian side Tallinna Kalev after leaving Latvian side Liepaja.
Musa Yahaya – MF
A Tottenham Hotspur and Celta de Vigo academy product, Yahaya signed his first professional contract with Mozambique’s Ferroviario Maputo and also enjoyed a short-term deal at Portimonense.
He currently represents Portuguese second division side Academico de Viseu following failed attempts at Vizela, and Porto B.
>Raymond Japhet - DF
Japhet, who was not dressed for action, currently represents Slovak third-tier side Tesla Stropkov
Denis Nya - DF
Just like Japhet, Nya did not get a single minute of action and he currently features for Akwa United. He was part of Kennedy Boboye’s Promise Keepers who won the 2020-21 Nigeria Professional Football League title.
Musa Muhammed - DF
Captain fantastic Muhammed played all games of the U17 World Cup, holding sway in the defence. The utility player scored three goals in the competition - including one in the final.
He boasts three caps for the Super Eagles and he is a player for HNK Gorica in the Croatian First Football League.
Samuel Okon - DF
Another shining star in Manu’s team. He played all eight games and scored two goals – which came against Iran and Sweden.
Before heading to Calabar Rovers, he had spells at Bayelsa United, Serbia’s Dinamo Vranje and Akwa United.
Aliyu Abubakar - DF
The reliable defender played just two games in the historic triumph. Abubakar, 25, is a member of Kazakhstan Premier League side FC Zhetysu.
Chidiebere Nwakali – DF
Although registered as a defender, the Manchester City youth player played as a midfielder, bagging two goals.
Following his inability to break into the Citizens’ first team, Nwakali was loaned to Malaga B, Girona, Start, Sogndal and Aberdeen before joining Rakow Czestochowa permanently in 2018.
He joined Saudi Arabia second division side Tuwaiq in 2021
Zaharaddeen Bello – DF
The centre-back was one of the competition’s discoveries. He went ahead to represent Nigeria at U20 and U23 level. His whereabouts are unknown at the moment.
Abdulazeez Abubakar - GK
Abdulazeez Abubakar was the third-choice goalkeeper in the Golden Eaglets squad. No one could trace his career after the triumph in UAE.
Francis Uzoho - GK
Uzoho did not play a single game in UAE, albeit, in a positive twist of fate, he was Super Eagles’ first-choice goalkeeper at the 2018 Fifa World Cup in Russia.
Professionally, he represents Omonia in the Cyprus top flight.
Dele Alampasu
Alampasu’s heroics during the competition earned him the best goalkeepers’ award. Following his participation at the African Nations Championship, many had thought he would seal his place in the Super Eagles, nevertheless, that has not become a reality.
He represents Ventspils in the Latvian elite division.
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