The coach of the Nigeria U20 team Ladan Bosso is close to finalizing the last details on the players who will be in his preliminary list for the U20 World Cup, OGN can exclusively reveal.
Bosso’s ward qualified for the U20 World Cup by finishing third at the U20 Africa Cup of Nations but the coach isn’t satisfied with certain areas in his team and has decided to plug the gap with players based abroad.
Although the coach is going to prosecute the World Cup with 75% of the players who were at the AFCON, he however wants to bring competition to his team, hence his decision to call up new players, he has also dropped some players from the AFCON team.
In goal, the coach will stick with the three goalkeepers he took to the AFCON but he will bring another left back and also a center back to the team. Both players who were made to believe will come from teams in Nigeria.
However in midfield, Bosso has three names lined up with doubts over the availability of Daniel Daga, who is still recuperating from the Injury he picked up in the opening game of the AFCON. Ebenezer Akinsanmiro of Inter Milan tops the list.
Talks have started with Victor Eletu of AC Milan but it’s still at a very early stage, so one can’t categorically say he is in the list. The same can be said of Basit Ojediran, who was with the team but dropped before the AFCON.
On the flanks, Joel Ideho of Arsenal is one who has won the heart of the coach, he did so after two training sessions in Abuja. Bar his passport issues he will no doubt be in the list. Newly signed Rangers of Scotland winger Thompson Ishaka is also in the list. He was with the team at their camp in Abuja.
Where the coach has bigger concerns is in attack and he has made his pick already with Crystal Palace Ademola Ola-Adebomi, Segun Otusanya of Norwegian side FK Haugesund who have both trained with the team handed a spot in the list.
Nathan Coker of Norwich City is also handed another chance by Bosso while reports have it that a striker recommended by ex Super Eagles striker Aiyegbeni is also in the list. Egypt based Charles Ekpeyong of Ghazi El Mahalla is also under consideration for a spot.
Mohammed Mowiz