The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has appointed experienced coach and youth football developer Ahmed Lawal Dankoli as Chief Scout of the national U-23 team, the Olympic Eagles, reports Nigeriasoccernet.com.
Dankoli began his new assignment on Thursday at the team's training camp in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, where he joined the technical crew as preparations continue for the 2028 Olympic Games qualifying tie against the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
His appointment is expected to strengthen the team's talent identification process, with his background in grassroots football, player development and youth national team coaching seen as valuable assets ahead of the qualifiers.
Dankoli has spent several years working across different levels of Nigerian football, particularly in the development of young players.
Since 2012, he has served as Head Coach of Abuja Football College, an academy affiliated with Croatian club HNK Rijeka and supported by an oil servicing company. The institution, now based in Port Harcourt, has focused on identifying and preparing young footballers for professional careers.
His coaching experience also includes a spell as Head Coach of Ranchers Bees FC from 2002 to 2004, a stint with Sokoto Football Academy in 2005, and responsibility for the NPFL U-17 All-Stars team in 2019. During his time in Sokoto, he led the academy side to a tournament in the Czech Republic.
At international level, Dankoli has worked with several Nigerian youth teams. He was an assistant coach with the U-15 national team during the 2019 Japan Youth Invitational Tournament and later served in similar roles with the U-17 team in 2020 and 2022, the U-23 side in 2023, and the U-20 team in 2024.
His work at Abuja Football College has reportedly helped more than 100 players progress to professional football, including opportunities in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) and European leagues. More than 40 of those players are said to be currently playing in Europe.
Several footballers developed under his guidance have also represented Nigeria at different age-grade levels, with some going on to earn senior national team appearances for the Super Eagles. The academy's record further includes more than a decade of annual European tours and tournaments, which have given its players opportunities to gain international experience.
A former professional footballer who played in Nigeria, Asia and Europe, Dankoli brings a combination of playing experience, coaching knowledge and talent identification expertise to his new role.
His appointment adds another experienced youth development figure to the Olympic Eagles' technical structure as Nigeria works towards securing a place at the 2028 Olympic Games.