The Nigeria Football Federation has appointed experienced talent developer Dankoli to the technical setup of the Olympic Eagles, according to BSN Sports.
The decision brings a seasoned grassroots strategist into the national under-23 setup as Nigerian football administrators seek to revamp age-grade squads. The Olympic Eagles represent Nigeria in international men's under-23 football tournaments, including qualifying campaigns for the Olympic Games and the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations.
Dankoli is widely regarded within domestic football circles for his track record in scouting, mentoring, and developing young prospects. His inclusion is expected to boost the coaching crew's capacity to identify emerging talent from domestic academies and leagues across the country.
Nigeria has a historic tradition in the Olympic football tournament, having won gold in Atlanta in 1996, silver in Beijing in 2008, and bronze in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. However, the under-23 team has struggled in recent qualification cycles, missing out on appearances at both the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The football federation has increasingly focused on tapping into grassroots development experts to restore the pipeline of talent feeding into the senior national team, the Super Eagles. Dankoli's immediate duties are set to involve talent identification and preparations for upcoming continental qualifiers.
Further details regarding the specific structure of the Olympic Eagles coaching department and contract terms are expected to be outlined by the federation in due course.
