NFF Appoints Manu Garba and Moses Aduku to Lead Golden Eaglets and Falconets

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed the appointments of Manu Garba and Moses Aduku as head coaches of the national U-17 and U-20 women’s teams, respectively.

Garba returns for a third spell in charge of the Golden Eaglets, having previously led the team to success at the global and continental levels. His most notable achievement came in 2013, when he guided Nigeria to victory at the FIFA U-17 World Cup. Two years later, he steered the U-20 side to the Africa Cup of Nations title.

His reappointment was ratified by the NFF Executive Committee following a recommendation by the federation’s Technical and Development Subcommittee. Garba also led the Eaglets to the 2019 U-17 World Cup in Brazil and is widely credited with developing young players who have progressed to the senior national team.

His immediate focus will be preparing the Golden Eaglets for the upcoming WAFU B U-17 Championship, which Nigeria will host later this year.

On the women’s side, Moses Aduku has been handed the reins of the Falconets, replacing Chris Danjuma, who led the team to the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia.

Aduku, who currently manages Edo Queens in the Nigeria Women’s Football League, brings a wealth of experience to the role. He previously coached Bayelsa Queens and was part of the Falconets’ technical crew during their quarter-final run at the 2022 U-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica.

Both Garba and Aduku are expected to officially begin their roles this weekend. The Falconets will resume preparations for their 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifier against Rwanda in September, while the Golden Eaglets aim to reclaim West African supremacy at the WAFU B tournament, also set for September.