Ladan Bosso, Head Coach of Nigeria’s U-20 national football team, Flying Eagles has expressed optimism that his team which has qualified for the last 16 of the ongoing FIFA U-20 World Cup after pipping Dominican Republic 2-1 and thumping Italy 2-0, will get better as the competition progresses, reports Completesports.com.
Speaking from Argentina, Bosso said that after earning a marginal 2-1 win over little known Dominican Republic, the boys raised their game against Italy to book a ticket for the next round with a game in hand against Brazil who trounced the Dominican Republic 6-0 after losing 2-3 to Italy.
“It’s massive beating Italy that defeated highly-rated Brazil 3-2 by two unreplied goals and that gives me the confidence that boys, most of whom are debuting at such a big stage are now ready to give the World Cup a real go,” Bosso who is the President of Nigeria Football Coaches Association stated.
Also Read – 2023 U-20 W/Cup: How Flying Eagles Defeated Italy — Eletu
“I am impressed with the performance of my players and I believe they will get better going forward. We shall continue to work hard and see how far our hard work and dedication take us. One thing I will assure Nigerians is that we shall try to meet their expectations.
Asked what are his plans against Brazil, Bosso said: “Having watched Brazilian play, I think we know how to handle them but I will consider giving the other players who have yet to feature in our two games an opportunity to showcase themselves.”
The Flying Eagles will take on Brazil on Saturday, May 27 at the Estadio Unico Diego Maradona in La Plata in their final Group D match. The Nigerians need a draw to top the group.
By Richard Jideaka, Abuja
5 Comments
Less talk more work please. It’s not over until it’s over.
@Ben K, it’s a MANDATORY press conference (pre- and post-game) required by FIFA. Neither Bosso nor any of the other coaches at the tournament has a choice.
Is this crazy Bosso planning to field reserves against Brazil? Does Nigeria prefer finishing 3rd in the group? Very tactically strange and risky!!
It will be very unwise to field a second string team against Brazil in the last group match. Even if we were to play against the least of football minnows, and the game totally inconsequential, it is never a good decision playing around with the starting 11 in the middle of a tournament, unless in the obvious case of players not living up to expectations, or necessary change in tactical approach. Playing the same set of players together helps team cohesion and solidity as the tournament progresses, especially for a country like Nigeria that the National teams only start getting to gel during the course of the tournament. Of course, introducing one or two different players into the starting lineup is expected sometimes, but wholesale changes in the middle of the tournament will break the rhythm of first team, and by the time they regroup in the round of 16, there’ll be playing like a team starting afresh in the tournament. This was the downfall Super Eagles in the last nations cup when coach Equaveon decided to play an experimental lineup in the “inconsequential” last group match against Guinea Bissau. By the time the first 11 returned against Tunisia, they had lost the rhythm and produced a rather lethargic performance that ended with a loss. I’m really surprised that another Nigerian coach is about to make the same mistake.
Please anyone close to coach Ladan Bosso should advise him that it will be a grave mistake to go with such approach.
Bosso didn’t say he would field “reserves” nor a so-called “second string team” against Brazil, so abegi quit jumping the gun until we see the lineup on Saturday. He specifically said that he wants the team to beat Brazil to build on the confidence they garnered off the Italy win, and so one would expect his lineup tomorrow to match that aspiration.
Nonetheless, it would be understandable if a player like Benjamin Fredericks who has a yellow card and could conceivably miss the round of 16 knockout stage game if he picks up another yellow (albeit I must confess uncertainty if all yellow cards are wiped off after the group stage games, as is done in some tournaments).
Furthermore, unsure of the extent of Eletu’s reported “cramp” but it might be a good idea for him not to start or alternatively not yo play the entire 90 minutes-plus on Saturday. It may also be a good idea to start Emmanuel Umeh (who I personally think to be the better of the two centre-forwards) in this game.
Additionally, the likes of Mohammed ‘Beji’ Ibrahim has underperformed (at least by his own standards) thus far, as did Samson Lawal in the Italy game. Accordingly, even though I happen to think Haliru Sarki has been a stellar impact sub, this might the game to give Sarki and/or Tochukwu Nnadi (who started vs DR) a start.
A squad of 21 players should ideally be good enough and primed to be able to step in (or even start, if necessary) in a number of circumstances and/or situations, as they unravel and develop. It shouldn’t be just 11 starters and a handful of capable subs, while the remainder are on an all-expenses paid training holiday.
BEST WISHES TO THE LADS!