>> CHINA 1985: Inaugural FIFA under-16 competition. Also the first time an African country, Nigeria will win a FIFA organised competition. The biggest revelation for Nigeria were Nduka Ugbade and Jonathan Akpoborie who went on to feature in the senior team.
>> CANADA 1987: Nigeria was on the verge of repeating the 1985 triumph but was shot down by the former USSR in the penalty shoot-out. Phillip Osondu was far and away the best player at Canada ‘87, with his mobility, power and vision.
>> SCOTLAND 1989: Europe hosted for the first time, and Nigeria did not get to the final. The tournament was a revelation for Nigeria’s Victor Ikpeba, and Godwin Okpara who went on to play for the senior national side.
>> ITALY 1991: This was the first tournament Nigeria didn’t make an appearance in because of a FIFA ban due to age discrepancies.
>> JAPAN 1993: Nigeria beat Ghana 2-1 in the final. The team scored 20 goals, with Wilson Oruma and Kanu Nwankwo scoring a combined tally of 11 goals between them. Celestine Babayaro, Kanu, and Oruma moved on to the senior side.
>> ECUADOR 1995: The second time Nigeria will lose in the quarter final to an Asian country after the Scotland edition when they lost to Saudi Arabia. This time the Golden Eaglets lost to Oman.
>> EGYPT 1997: Nigeria did not qualify because of Nigeria Football Association’s blunder of not presenting the players passport in the African qualifiers against Benin Republic.
>> NEW ZEALAND 1999: The Golden Eaglets did not make the championship for a third time.
>> TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 2001: France trounced Nigeria 3-0 to win their first FIFA U-17 World Championship. Sinama Pongolle became the all-time top scorer in a U-17 Championship with nine goals.
>> FINLAND 2003: In this edition Nigeria went out in the very first round when they chose the short straw and had to step aside and allow Costa Rica into the quarter-finals.
>> PERU 2005: This marked the fourth time Nigeria will not make an appearance in the competition.
>> KOREA REPUBLIC 2007: The tournament was held on Asian soil for the third time and Nigeria left the continent with their third global crown.
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