Former Super Eagles defender Godwin Okpara has backed Nduka Ugbade and Ladan Bosso to lead the National U17 and U20 teams respectively, to at least World cup qualification.
Okpara also expressed confidence in the ability of the coaches to achieve success with their respective teams.
“Nduka Ugbade knows about it, he has played it, he has the experience and he is doing well, I am not scared of the U17 because the right person is there,” Okpara told FL.
“Ladan Bosso will make us proud because he is doing well and when you watch our U20, We seem to have very good players and from what I can see he is doing things on merit, so let’s just keep on praying for him so that he will be successful.”
Haven played in the U17 set up, Okpara revealed that it more difficult to track players now than it was then due to the over saturation of unregulated football academies, and he believes it will adversely affect the Nigeria’s success at age grade level.
“Things have changed have changed a lot these days, there are a lot of academies all over the country and we don’t know who is who. It’s unlike our days, where there were only two or three academies and they pick us right from school, and that is why currently our U17s have not been there.”
