Bosso expects ‘tough competition’ as Flying Eagles battle for AFCON ticket

FLYING Eagles head coach Ladan Bosso is braced for a difficult campaign at the West African Football Union U-20 tournament in Benin Republic.

The tournament is serving as the qualifying competition for the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations next year.

Bosso, who took the Flying Eagles to the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile in 2007 and got reappointed recently, is however confident his boys are ready for the challenges ahead.

“It will be a tough competition but we are ready,” Bosso said.

“A lot is at stake here, we are going to work hard to achieve our goals of picking a ticket to the U-20 Nations Cup.”

The team will be without goalkeeper John Amah for their opening fixture on Sunday evening against Cote d’Ivoire.

Except for Amah, every other player is fit and raring to go, according to the Nigeria Football Federation media department.

The NFF said all the players took COVID-19 tests and all the results came back negative.

The team is based in the Benin Republic capital city Cotonou but will play their group games in Port Novo, which is about 40 kilometres away.

The Nigerian team arrived in Benin Republic on Friday.