'We can identify who has no business in this team' - Flying Eagles coach ahead of trip to Niger

Speaking after Sunday's friendly against Cosmos FC, Flying Eagles head coach Ladan Bosso has revealed that the preparatory games will give him an idea of the players to be named on the finalized roster for the upcoming WAFU B U20 Championship taking place in Niamey, Niger Republic.

Fifteen years after coaching the likes of Brown Ideye, Elderson Echiejile, Ezekiel Bala and Bentley at the 2007 FIFA U20 World Cup, Bosso has been reappointed coach of the Flying Eagles and his first brief is to ensure Nigeria qualify for the 2023 U20 AFCON.

"We can now identify who will definitely make the team to the next stage, we can now identify who has no business in this team," Bosso told reporters including allnigeriasoccer.com.

"We have less than one week to leave Nigeria, so between now and that time we have two friendly matches and we are good to go. We are going to finish the friendly matches in Niger.

"I have seen the boys in action. Preparation is all about competition, the match  was a competition-like situation and those that showed themselves they are good to go.

"Those that did not measure to what we are looking for, we still have time to look at them but the issue is everybody knows that we don't have much time, so the little time we have we have to use it wisely."

Bosso invited several defenders and a goalkeeper with Nigerian Professional Football League experience on a 40-man training camp roster, headlined by Enyimba talent Adegbite Emmanuel and Lobi Stars glovesman Orya Joseph.

The Flying Eagles manager has explained his thinking behind calling up NPFL stars and is pleased with the quality of goalkeepers at his disposal.

"We need matured people in that defence line and that helped us today.

"What caused the two goals against us was lack of understanding, and that misunderstanding is something we have to work on.

"More friendly matches they will be able to understand themselves and that is coaching.

"As far as I'm concerned now, with what I saw and goalkeepers on the bench, I think we have more matured goalkeepers than what we took to Republic of Benin the last time," Bosso concluded.

Seven–time African champions, Nigeria will play in Group B of the WAFU B Championship alongside Ghana and Burkina Faso, with the tournament scheduled for 7th – 20th May.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel