What Has Happened to the History-Making Golden Eaglets? - FIFA Track the Progress of 2013 and 2015 U17 World Champions

 

In a special feature ‘What happened to the history-making Golden Eaglets?’, FIFA highlighted the promising careers of Victor Osimhen, Kelechi Iheanacho, Francis Uzoho, Kelechi Nwakali and Samuel Chukwueze since they conquered the world at U17 level.

This month will make it five years since a certain Victor Osimhen emerged all-time goal scorer with 10 goals in the FIFA U17 World Cup in Chile and he achieved this feat by scoring in all his team’s games including the final.

The now €81 million Napoli star striker has since become the most expensive African star ever and the darling boy of international media. 

Kelechi Iheanacho was MVP of the 2013 U17 World Cup in Abu Dhabi – six goals and seven assists.He has now scored nine goals in 27 matches for the Super Eagles and also playing for a top Premiership side Leicester City. 

Though, some school of thought believe Iheanacho hasn't lived upto his full potentials as displayed in 2013 edition of FIFA U17 World Cup. 

Samuel Chukwueze was a Bronze Ball winner at Chile 2015 and that was after overcoming the setback of having his boots and training gear burnt by his family to discourage him from the game. Chukwueze has in foundry times displayed his potentials both in the Nigeria national team as well as his laliga club, Villareal. He has shown he has what it takes to become the Next biggest star from Africa. 

Francis Uzoho, who was deputy goalkeeper at the 2013 edition of the U17 World Cup, was No 1 for Nigeria at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.  Uzoho is maturing in the way he keeps the goal post. 

Though, not many believe Uzoho is such a world class goalkeeper as Vincent Enyeama or Dosun Joseph, but he has managed to outwit his competitors such as Daniel Akpeyi, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Dele Alampasu to remain the first choice goalkeeper at the moment. 

Kelechi Nwakali, MVP of the 2015 U17 World Cup may have not lived up to expectations. Not many understand what is happening to Nwakali, with all of his abundant skills showcased during the cadet world Cup, he is still playing in some second rate clubs, yet still struggling to make any significant impressions. He is not even featuring now in his La Liga club, SD Huesca. 

FIFA goal with the U17 investment will be shown successful if these great Nigerian talents discovered five, six years ago begin to compete as real contenders in the 2022 World Cup billed for Qatar.