Eaglets to Eagles: For every Kanu a triple ‘can’t rule’

Meet Nwankwo Kanu aka Papilo.

He won the FIFA U-17 World Cup with the Golden Eaglets in 1993.

He won the Olympics with the Dream Team in 1996.

He played at the World Cup with Super Eagles in 1998 and 2002.

He captained the Super Eagles.

He was voted the best player in Africa in 1996 and 1999.

He never scored at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Well, you can erase that last part from your memory because Nwankwo Kanu remains the most successful Nigerian Golden Eaglet.

A few players have come close – John Obi Mikel, Joseph Yobo to mention just two in a thin list.

But a lot fizzled out after dazzling the world at the FIFA U-17 World Cup. Let’s do a roll call from the first set who won in 1985 to the last set who also triumphed in 2013.

1985

Lucky Agbonsevafe, Tenworimi Duere, Nduka Ugbade, Fatai Atere, Binabei Numa, Kingsley  Aikhionbore, Salisu Nakade, Sani Adamu, Jonathan Akpoborie, Victor Igbinoba, Bella Momoh, Imama Amapakabor, Baudwin Bazuaye, Joseph Babatunde, Chukwuma Nwoha, Mohamed Yahaya, Hilary Adiki, Dele Abubakar

Eaglet to Eagle: Nduka Ugbade, Jonathan Akpoborie, Baudwin Bazuaye

Eaglet to “successful” Eagle: Nduka Ugbade

1987

Angus Ikeji, Tonworimi Duere, Baba Jibrin, Fatai Atere, Eli Ayuba, Taiwo Enegwea, Oladuni Oyekale, Albert Eke, Oladimeji Lawal, Olusegun Fetuga, Anthony Emoedofu, Lemmy Isa, Peter Ogaba, Christopher Nwosu, Charles Obazee, Bawa Abdullahi, Philip Osondu, Sarafa Salami

Eaglet to Eagle: Oladimeji Lawal, Anthony Emoedofu, Bawa Abdullahi, Philip Osondu

Eaglet to “successful” Eagle: None

1989

Andrew Aikhuomogbe, Babajide Oguntunase, Bobolayefa Edon, Nura Muhammed, Bala Boyi, Precious Monye, Kayode Keshiro, Patrick Mancha, Sunny Umoru, Olusegun Fetuga, Victor Ikpeba, Lemmy Isa, John Agum, Aondofa Akosu, Godwin Okpara, Chiedu Anazonwu, Benedict Akwuegbu, John Saki

Eaglet to Eagle: Precious Monye, Kayode Keshinro, Patrick Mancha, Victor Ikpeba, Godwin Okpara, Benedict Akwuegbu

Eaglet to “successful” Eagle: Victor Ikpeba

1991 – Did not qualify                   

1993

Emmanuel Babayaro, Mobi Oparaku, Celestine Babayaro, Pascal Ojigwe, Charles Okonedo, Blessing Anyanwu, Manga Mohammed, Nwankwo Kanu, Festus Odini, Wilson Oruma, Sambo Choji, Emmanuel Okhenoboh, Ibrahim Babangida, Festus Okuogha, Elokha Asokuh, Abiodun Ogbebor, Peter Anosike, Destiny Iyonu

Eaglet to Eagle: Mobi Oparaku, Celestine Babayaro, Pascal Ojigwe, Nwankwo Kanu, Wilson Oruma

Eaglet to “successful” Eagle: Celestine Babayaro, Nwankwo Kanu, Wilson Oruma

1995

Olusegun Adeyemi, Chiedu Chukwueke, Haruna Abubakar, Igeniwari George, Godfrey Nwankpa, Joseph Yobo, James Igwilo, James Obiorah, Edward Anyamkygh, Olatubosun Ayeni, Emmanuel Nwakire, Munonye Chijoke, Kingsley Samuel, Kingsley Amuneke, Henry Onwuzuruike, Sampson Udofia, Johnson Oruma, Kazeem Ashimolowo

Eaglet to Eagle: Joseph Yobo,

Eaglet to “successful” Eagle: Joseph Yobo

1997 – Did not qualify

1999 – Did not qualify

2001

Oaze Uweluyi, Kennedy Chinwo, Ndala Ibrahim, Emmanuel Baba, Joseph Eyimofe, Richard Eromoigbe, Karimu Shaibu, Austine Nnamdi, Moses Ayuba, Victor Brown, Femi Opabunmi, Ifeanyi Ugo, Soga Sambo, Kazeem Babatunde, Cyril Gona, Omonigho Temile, Suleiman Mohanned, Akpan Bassey

Eaglet to Eagle: Femi Opabunmi

Eaglet to “successful” Eagle: None

2003

Ambrose Vanzekin, Efe Unukpo, Awwalu Aminu, Omoh Attah, Nkem Ovunwo, Echezona Anyichie, Emmanuel Sarki, Ezekiel Bala, Promise Isaac, John Obi Mikel, Chinedu Obasi, Mustapha Salihu, Solomon Okoronkwo, Kola Anubi, Chamberlain Ekrebe, Chijioke Ebigbo, Charles Amaihwe, Morufu Adetoro, John Egharevba, Tope Okeowo

Eaglet to Eagle: Promise Isaac, John Obi Mikel, Chinedu Obasi

Eaglet to “successful” Eagle: John Obi Mikel

2005 – Did not qualify

2007

Laide Okanlawon, Oladele Ajiboye, Uche Okafor, Ganiyu Oseni, Usman Amodu, Azeez Balogun, Kingsley Udoh, Daniel Joshua, Matthew Edile, Rabiu Ibrahim, Lukman Abdulkarim, Sheriff Isa, Mustapha Ibrahim, Uremu Egbeta, Ademola Rafael, Saheed Fabiyi, Lukman Haruna, King Osanga, Kabiru Akinsola, Macauley Chrisantus, Yakubu Alfa

Eaglet to Eagle: Rabiu Ibrahim, Lukman Haruna

Eaglet to “successful” Eagle: None

2009

Dami Paul, Amos Izuchukwu, John Felagha, Aigbe Oliha, Mohammed Aliyu, Fortune Chukwudi, Kenneth Omeruo, Chukwujike Mgbam, Ogenyi Onazi, White Agwuocha, Abdul Ajagun, Obinna Okoro, Deji Joel, Ramon Azeez, Stanley Okoro, Olarenwaju Kayode, Terry Envoh, Omoh Ojabu, Sani Emmanuel, Yusuf Otubanjo, Edafe Egbedi

Eaglet to Eagle: Kenneth Omeruo, Ogenyi Onazi, Ramon Azeez

Eaglet to “successful” Eagle: Kenneth Omeruo, Ogenyi Onazi

2011 – Did not qualify

2013

Dele Alampasu, Abdulazeez Abubakar, Francis Uzoho, Musa Muhammed, Samuel Okon, Denis Nya, Aliyu Abubakar, Chidiebere Nwakali, Raymond Japhet, Zaharaddeen Bello, Akinjide Idowu, Habib Makanjuola, Abdullahi Alfa, Musa Yahaya, Chigozi Obasi, Saviour Godwin, Baba Salihu, Success Isaac, Kelechi Iheanacho, Chidera Ezeh, Taiwo Awoniyi

Eaglet to “potential” Eagle: Dele Alampasu, Musa Muhammed, Chidiebere Nwakali, Zaharaddeen Bello, Abdullahi Alfa, Musa Yahaya, Saviour Godwin, Success Isaac, Kelechi Iheanacho, Taiwo Awoniyi

Prophetic words?

“You will one day become the national senior team,” Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari, told Nduka Ugbade and co. in 1985 when he received them after the triumph in China.

With only a few players to have transformed from Eaglets to Eagles like King Nwankwo Kanu, Victor Osimhen and his 2015 set need to panic and ponder on this statement.

The president may well tell them same words if they beat Mali on Sunday. But the statement can only be prophetic if they take to these “suggestions” of ours and end up like King Kanu.

Read that and more in our next instalment as we countdown to Sunday’s final.