Maikaba turns to NLO in search of next Flying Eagles stars

Posted : 18 May 2026

Newly appointed Flying Eagles head coach, Abdul Maikaba, has intensified his search for young talents across the country, with the Nigeria Nationwide League One (NLO) emerging as a key hunting ground for the national U-20 team.

The coach was present at the Area 3 Centre of the 2026 NLO season in Abuja, where he closely monitored several matches and identified Galadima FC midfielder, Samson Joshua, as one of the standout performers capable of earning a national team invitation.

Despite already submitting a provisional 35-man list to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Maikaba maintained that the door remains open for exceptional players discovered in the grassroots league.

According to him, the timing of the NLO season limited his chances of selecting more players from the competition before the list was released, but he insisted deserving talents would still be invited to prove themselves with the Flying Eagles.

Maikaba revealed that he has already watched games in Kano, Lagos, Akwa Ibom, and Abuja as part of his nationwide scouting mission aimed at assembling a competitive squad for upcoming assignments.

The former Wikki Tourists coach expressed satisfaction with the quality of football on display at the Area 3 Centre, describing the performances as highly impressive.

He singled out Samson Joshua, who wore jersey number 14 for Galadima FC, as a player who caught his attention and could soon get an opportunity with the national team setup.

The Flying Eagles coach also noted that most age-eligible players are concentrated in the NLO rather than in the Nigeria Premier Football League, where under-20 players are scarce.

He added that Sporting Lagos contributed four players to his squad after impressing him during the Nigeria National League Super 4 competition, citing the club’s youthful structure and quality as reasons for his decision.

Looking ahead, Maikaba said his immediate focus is guiding Nigeria through the WAFU competition and securing qualification for the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations before targeting a successful FIFA U-20 World Cup campaign.

He admitted the task ahead would be difficult due to limited preparation time, but expressed confidence in the abundance of football talent available in the country.

Maikaba further stated that matching or surpassing the achievement of former Flying Eagles coach Samson Siasia, who led Nigeria to a silver medal finish at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, would be a major accomplishment for the team and the nation.

The head coach remains committed to exploring grassroots football to uncover exceptional prospects who can strengthen the national youth setup. By blending these newly discovered talents with his provisional squad, he hopes to build a formidable team capable of achieving continental and global success. This strategic focus on the lower leagues underlines his belief that Nigeria's football future relies heavily on the development of its vibrant grassroots base.

Maikaba turns to NLO in search of next Flying Eagles stars

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