The transition of standout performers in the Nigeria U20 MNT to the senior team is paramount, according to former Goalkeeper Dosu Joseph.
Nigeria will end its campaign at the ongoing U20 Africa Cup of Nations in the third-placed playoff match against Tunisia this Saturday.
The team led by Ladan Bosso secured a spot at this year’s FIFA U20 World Cup, when it reached the semi-final, but missed out on an 8th title.
Dosu praised the team for securing a place at the World, and argues that the U20 AFCON title would have served as icing on the cake.
However, looking ahead, the Olympic gold winner insists the major objective of National cadre teams should remain as the conveyor belt for producing Super Eagles stars in the future.
“What we wanted, they have gotten it, which is to qualify for the world cup,” Dosu Joseph explained.
“If they had won the tournament, yes, it’s going to be a plus.
“In tournaments like this, it is not all about winning the competition, but qualifying which we have done.
“We just need to produce players from under 17 to 20 and 23 and then to the main Super Eagles. One or two players will surely qualify to the main team, but like I said, they have qualified for the world cup and that’s good for them.”
Joseph Dosu earned three caps for Nigeria after a successful Olympic Games in 1996.
In his assessment of the Flying Eagles, he charged the Coaches to improve the team, in areas where there’s been obvious shortcomings in Egypt.
“We’ve seen the team; we’ve raised our eyebrows about some departments and I believe the coaches will surely come back and do what they are supposed to do.”
