'I was shocked' - Ladan Bosso names four Flying Eagles stars he expected to make Nigeria's AFCON squad 

Manager Ladan Bosso was understandably disappointed after the Flying Eagles failed in their bid to qualify for the semifinals of the ongoing 2023 African Games following a 3-2 loss to Senegal on Friday night despite taking a second minute lead through Charles Agada.

Nigeria did not advance beyond the group stage, suffering losses to Senegal and Uganda, with only one victory against South Sudan.

The experienced Nigerian football tactician faced the media shortly after last night's game at the Accra Sports Stadium. 

Bosso previously commented few months ago that he was surprised that erstwhile Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro did not include any player from the Flying Eagles class of 2023 in the squad list for the Africa Cup of Nations. 

The former El-Kanemi Warriors manager recalled that the likes of Efe Ambrose, Elderson Echiejile  Chukwuma Akabueze and Brown Ideye graduated into the Super Eagles after their standout performances at the 2007 Fifa U20 World Cup. 

Bosso maintained that 2023 Fifa U20 World Cup stars Daniel Daga, Daniel Bameyi, Benjamin Fredrick and Haliru Sarki should have been chosen in the Super Eagles squad that competed at the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast.

Speaking to reporters, he said: "I've always said it the Ladan Bosso you're seeing today and always I'm  a developer. I've always developed players for the Super Eagles, that is for the main team.

"I take you back in 2007 when I was opportune to take the team to Canada, six of them started playing for Super Eagles from the U20.

"Now why I said I was shocked when the last AFCON list was released, we have the likes of Sarki, Daga that played here, Fredrick, Bameyi and co. I was expecting them to be called to the Super Eagles.

"And because they were not called I have to call them here to come and launch their life with the present U20 because they are still within the age."

Sadiq Isiyaka was the Flying Eagles' standout performer at the 2023 African Games, scoring in back-to-back matches against Uganda and South Sudan.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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