THE Flying Eagles take the Nigerian battle to Rwanda next weekend to win ticket for the FIFA U-20 World Cup to be hosted by Egypt. Nothing other than a top four finish in the African Youth Championship is expected from Ladan Bosso and his troops, though the previous performance of the coach has cast aspersion on the ability of Nigeria to win the coveted crown in Kigali, Rwanda.
The workload of the coach should be less tasking because the team will be parading a chunk of the lads that struck gold in the last U-17 World Cup in South Korea. Blending the lads with the new crop should be the task that Bosso and his technical backroom staff are expected to give a stream of expectant fans.
The Nigerian U-20 midfield has the best crop of talents we can parade at this level.
The midfield trio of Yakubu Alfa, Haruna Lukman and Rabiu Ibrahim have matured into quality talents at their respective European clubs. The victorious U.17 team of 1993 did not have this sweet graduation into the Flying Eagles. With the exception of Wilson Oruma, Karibe Ojigwe and Nwankwo Kanu who was the stand out performer, the remaining players got lost in the Nigerian soccer radar over the years. From the goal post to the attack, the Nigerian U-20 Eagles can boast of 8 surviving members in the starting 11 from the Korean triumph. That’s not enough reason to start expecting much from a coach who is yet to get the respect of soccer loving Nigerians. His pedigree in the local league with a fumbling Wikki Tourist won’t give any reason to hope either.
I can put my money on this team leaving a mark in Kagili. The preparation might not be the best, which is typically Nigerian but when you see how well players like Ajiboye, Udoh, Lukman, Rabiu, Akinsola, Useni Chrisantus and the Udinese of Italy newcomer Odion Ighalo have developed in the past two seasons, then we can dare to hope for Gold. This will bring a very positive start for Nigeria in the year 2009.
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