How Bosso can leave good coaching legacy and give Nigeria the next Saka, Alaba, Musiala, Abraham

Head coach Ladan Bosso has declared his intention to scout for a new striker who is age-eligible for the Flying Eagles from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) ahead of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Indonesia. 

Bosso's team finished in 3rd place at the recently concluded CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt after beating Tunisia 4-0 at the Cairo International Stadium. 

The Flying Eagles will join Tunisia, The Gambia and Senegal as Africa's representatives at the FIFA U-20 World Cup. 

Bosso's decision correlates the submission of All Nigeria Soccer during the U-20 AFCON that the Flying Eagles strikers struggled during the tournament in Egypt. 

Aside the game against the Carthage Eagles,Nigeria were goal shy at the U20 AFCON.

All Nigeria Soccer however is of the opinion that Ladan Bosso should take a humble pie and get a striker from players of Nigerian descent abroad who are real U-20s instead of searching for one in the NPFL.

Many Nigerians believe that Nigerian coaches are hesitant to invite young players of Nigerian heritage when they are young because those boys come from climes where bribery in football at that level is not a norm.

Conversely, a desperate home-based player will pay his way into national teams so that he moves abroad.

To avoid such criticisms, Bosso should indeed find talents from the many young players of Nigerian descent and not let Nigeria lose such stars that could eventually settle for another country at the senior level. 

Nigeria lost Real Madrid's David Alaba after his efforts to play for the Golden Eaglets was frustrated. Jamaal Musiala, Karim Adeyemi, Noah Okafor and Junior Adamu now play for Germany and Switzerland respectively.

Although not at the youth level, Nigeria lost the chance to cap Arsenal superstar, Bukayo Saka and also miss the chance of having a capable second choice to Victor Osimhen in Tammy Abraham - not to forget AC Milan centre back, Fikayo Tomori. 

The Nigerian national team were lucky to have capped the likes of Alex Iwobi, Victor Moses, Ademola Lookman, William Troost Ekong, Leon Balogun and Calvin Bassey and they have done exceedingly well for the Super Eagles and their clubs. 

It will be hugely frustrating to see such gems slip through Nigeria's fingers again and Bosso must ensure that he leaves a positive legacy and cap such emerging talents. 

Ensuring that he calls up some of these Nigerians in diaspora could guarantee Bosso a place in Nigerian football history when some of those youngsters become global superstars in the near future. 

Izuchukwu Michael
 

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