Head Coach of Nigeria’s Under-20 national football team, Ladan Bosso, has assured the country that himself and technical crew are working very hard to raise a formidable Flying Eagles team ahead of the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Championship in Egypt next year.
The Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations will take place between February 18th – 12th March, 2023 in Egypt.
Speaking with Sports Journalists shortly after their training session in Abuja, Coach Bosso said Nigeria is blessed with lots of talented players and if well harnessed, will bring glory to the country.
“We have resumed our camping, myself including the technical crew and back room staff are working very hard to raise a formidable team ahead of the AFCON Under-20 Championship in Egypt next year,” Bosso said.
The top four teams from the Championship will qualify for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup scheduled to place in Indonesia from May 20th – 11th June, 2023.
After beating Paul E Sports Academy 5-0 in Thursday’s friendly game, the team will continue its re-building process as the two-time World Cup runners-up play Capital FC on Friday and Kebbi-Selected team on Saturday.
One of the players to watch out for is a former Ottasolo Football Club winger, Emmanuel Ekpenyong, who scored the second goal when he sent a ferocious shot to the roof of the net. After the goal, Ekpenyong continued to mesmerise the opponents from the flank, as he assisted the fourth goal that sealed the win for the Flying Eagles.
Ekpenyong is a player who is fast, pacy, energetic and as well, a clinical finisher inside the box. His exploits in a match against the Abia Warriors in the Aiteo Cup, where his goal for Ottasolo sent the Abia team packing in the FA Cup.
The Flying Eagles of Nigeria will be among the eight qualified teams at the Championship in Egypt next year. The Seven-time winners, Nigeria, will be making its comeback since 2019, in what will be their 18th appearance at the tournament. The Flying Eagles last won the competition in 2015.
