Nigeria U20 MNT head coach, Ladan Bosso has explained the decision to change his starting XI for the bronze medal match against Tunisia at the CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations.
Bosso oversaw his team’s 4-0 victory over the Young Carthage Eagles on Friday at the Cairo International Stadium.
In the post-match Presser, the Coach explained that Nigeria’s preparation for the FIFA World Cup, scheduled for May, has commenced.
He also praised the quality in the squad, as fringe players stepped up when called on off the bench.
” Nigeria as a nation is on the medal table and that is satisfying,” Bosso said in his post match presser.
“I need to also dedicate this victory to my mentor, in Nigeria, that is Fanny Amun because he called me after the qualification and said ‘Bosso, everybody is happy with the team, you have qualified, but try to use the last two matches to prepare your team for the World Cup’.
“You saw that we gave game time to the players who have been on the bench, largely, some of them started today.
“We gave game time to the ones who were regulars, and them was voted Man- of-the-match. It means that we gave game time to all 25 players in the squad.”
About the Flying Eagles’ style of play, Bosso reiterated the team’s objective was to get goals and win, even if it wasn’t beautiful.
“Yes, of course, today we did not keep the ball much, but we went for the goals and we got them.
“If you have been playing like that, forget the beauty of the game, what you are looking for is purposefulness.
“So, it is a lesson learnt, it is an area we have to work on and we can see what we can do with the team for the betterment of Nigeria.”
Ladan Bosso also explained how he hopes to improve the team’s goal scoring issues ahead of the World Cup in May.
“I have communicated with the IMC, the people in charge of the players, for the five top scorers of the Nigerian league.
“They have to get their dates of birth for me and by the time we arrive in Nigeria, I start working on those that can add value to the attack.”
