Ladan Bosso defends Flying Eagles after WAFU-B final loss

Former Nigeria U-20 head coach Ladan Bosso has dismissed claims that the Flying Eagles were poorly prepared for the WAFU-B U-20 Championship. His comments follow a 4-1 loss to Burkina Faso in the tournament final, which saw Nigeria finish as runners-up.

Bosso argued that the players and the technical staff exerted maximum effort during their preparations. He stated that a single poor performance in a final should not negate the collective work done leading up to the competition. The former coach, who led the team between 2020 and 2024, maintained that the crew did everything within their power.

The final was defined by a difficult start for the Flying Eagles, who conceded three goals within the first 15 minutes of play. This early deficit left Nigeria in a position from which they could not recover, eventually losing the match by a three-goal margin.

While defending the preparation process, Bosso noted that the early goals placed the team under immense pressure. He suggested that the experience should serve as a way to identify necessary improvements in tactical organization, defensive discipline, and concentration. He also highlighted the need for more work within the national youth football system to avoid similar outcomes.

Bosso has previously advocated for youth national teams to have more time together and to face high-quality opposition before major tournaments. Following the conclusion of this WAFU-B campaign, the focus remains on using the lessons from the defeat to improve future technical planning and preparation for Nigeria's youth programmes.