Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Guardian Nigeria
Published on 2024-03-17 04:06:36
Once again, Coach Ladan Bosso has led the National U-20 team, the Flying Eagles, to a disappointing exit from the ongoing 13th African Games in Ghana. The team suffered a 2-3 loss to Senegal in their final group match, sparking widespread anger among football fans. Many blame the President and Secretary General of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for allegedly forcing Bosso onto the team against the wishes of many Nigerians.
The Flying Eagles, once the pride of Nigeria and Africa in international competition, underperformed at the African Games, losing to both Uganda and Senegal in the group stage. This disappointing result mirrors a previous tournament in Cotonou, Benin Republic, where the Bosso-led team failed to advance in the U-20 WAFU Cup. This failure led to their absence in subsequent competitions, including the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations and the FIFA U-20 World Cup qualifiers.
Despite past failures, the NFF continued to support Bosso as Head Coach of the Flying Eagles, attracting criticism from many Nigerians. The team’s recent loss to Senegal in Ghana further highlighted Bosso’s coaching deficiencies, with the team finishing third in their group and failing to advance in the competition. Football analysts and fans expressed disappointment in the team’s performance and called for a serious approach to developing under-20 talent, similar to the focus on the senior national team, the Super Eagles.
The match against Senegal saw a promising start for the Flying Eagles, with an early goal from Charles Agada. However, the Senegalese team quickly equalized and took the lead before Nigeria managed to level the score. Despite Senegal going down to ten men late in the match, they held on to secure a victory, knocking the Flying Eagles out of the tournament.
Criticism of Bosso’s coaching abilities and the NFF’s decision to retain him despite previous failures intensified after the team’s elimination from the African Games. Many fans expressed a lack of confidence in Bosso’s leadership and questioned the football federation’s support of him.
In the aftermath of the match, discussions on radio sports programs and social media highlighted the disappointment and frustration felt by Nigerian football fans. Calls for accountability within the NFF and a reconsideration of the coaching staff for the U-20 team grew louder.
Overall, the disappointing performance of the Flying Eagles at the African Games underscores the need for a reevaluation of coaching strategies and player development within Nigerian football. The continued support of underperforming coaches and lackluster results at international competitions indicate a need for change and a renewed focus on building a competitive youth team for future success.
