Allnigeriasoccer.com can exclusively report that Eboboritse Uwejamomere is currently the frontrunner for the vacant Golden Eaglets coaching position.

A number of high-profile candidates have submitted applications, including 1985 Fifa U17 World Cup-winning captain Nduka Ugbade and former Sporting Lagos coach Shola Adegun. 

However, Uwejamomere is understood to enjoy the backing of Nigeria Football Federation president Ibrahim Musa Gusau and National Sports Commission Director General Bukola Olopade, positioning him as the leading candidate to succeed Manu Garba.

Uwejamomere was proposed to the Nigerian Federation by Olopade, and with Gusau seeking a second term as president, he is actively pushing to bring Olopade's proposal to fruition.

He is also a protégé of former Nigeria Football Federation president Amaju Pinnick, who brought him into the national team setup to serve as match analyst for the Super Falcons during the 2024 Paris Olympic qualifying campaign.

Former Super Eagles defender Ugbade is lagging behind in the race for the Golden Eaglets job, even with the support of stakeholders at Mavlon FC, which has supplied talents such as Simon Cletus, Charles Agada and Salim Fago Lawal to Nigeria's youth teams in the past. 

Uwejamomere, who holds a UEFA A License, has been described by his backers as a tactically sound coach with solid credentials on paper and in practice, alongside strong analytical ability.

On the flip side, there are fears that the University of South Wales alum is still relatively inexperienced for the job and may struggle with the political demands that come with leading the Golden Eaglets.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel