Flying Eagles coach Ladan Bosso calms tough-looking U-20 AFCON draw

The head coach of the Flying Eagles, Ladan Bosso, has remained composed despite his team’s challenging draw for the 2023 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations.

The host team, Egypt, the 2019 runners-up, Senegal, and Mozambique, which is competing in the event for the second time, were drawn as the Nigerian youngsters’ opponents in Cairo on Friday.

It should be mentioned that the Flying Eagles were officially eliminated from the AFCON 2021 when Cote d’Ivoire beat Ghana 1-0.

For the seven-time AFCON winners to have a chance of making it to the semi-finals of the WAFU B Zonal qualifiers, Ghana had to defeat Cote d’Ivoire by a significant margin.

Bosso’s players will go up against Egypt, Senegal, and Mozambique, but the coach downplayed the challenging grouping, according to a Daily Post report.

“The group is a normal group. Every team that qualifies for the U20 Africa Cup of Nations is hopeful of qualifying for the World Cup

“So, whether we are in a tough group or not, if you want to qualify for the World Cup, you must play against the top teams at the Africa Cup of Nations.” says Bosso.

He also disclosed the tactics his side would use to stand out in Group A.

“We will take it step by step. We won’t put any country first, we must respect every country in our group and we’ll work towards it.

“This team is not Bosso’s team, it’s Nigeria’s team. So, I want everyone to pray for the team now that the draws have been made,” he said.

2023’s AFCON U-20 is scheduled to take place from February 19 to March 12.

The 2023 #TotalEnergiesAFCONU20 groups in full! ????

Who will make it through to the quarter-finals? ???? pic.twitter.com/djtyqz09cQ

— CAF (@CAF_Online) December 23, 2022