Head coach of the U20 team of Nigeria Ladan Bosso picked 21 players who will represent Nigeria at the U20 World Cup in Argentina, the team and the technical crew left Nigeria yesterday for the final leg of preparation before the start of the tournament on the 20th of May.
OGN editor in chief, Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman takes a look at the players picked in goal, defence, midfield and attack.
Goalkeepers: Chijioke Aniagboso, Nathaniel Nwosu, Saheed Jimoh
Mowiz – The battle for who will be first choice is down to the duo of Nwosu and Anigboso. The former was the best goalkeeper when the WAFU tournament but lost his spot after the first game at the AFCON to the latter.
Anigboso can’t afford to rest on his oars as the same way he was handed the number one spot might work against him.
Likely To Start – Chijioke Anigboso.
Defenders: Daniel Bemeyi, Benjamin Fredrick, Solomon Agbalaka, Augustine Njoku, Abel Ogwuche, Israel Domingo.
Mowiz- This was one of the strength at the U20 AFCON. Only Domingo who is a left back is new in the set up. From all indications, the back four of Bameyi, Agbalaka, Frederick and Ogwuche that will still remain the same. However Njoku who was voted as the best right back at the AFCON will fancy his chances of reclaiming his spot from his captain Bameyi.
Likely To Start – Bameyi, Agbalaka, Frederick, Ogwuche.
Midfielders: Samson Lawal, Daniel Daga, Tochukwu Nadi, Victor Eletu, Joshua John, Ibrahim Abdullahi.
Mowiz – Much changed in terms of personnels from the AFCON. The team’s star man in the middle Daga who got injured very early into the first game at the tournament and missed the rest of it returns but without his trusted partner Onuche Ogbelu, a shock omission.
Aminu Mohammed also missed out on the cut and Bosso explained that it’s because he badly wanted to improve that department and saw players he feels will give the team more in that department. For instance Botev Plodiv enforcer Nnadi have been a revelation in the middle so far, while John is seen as the joker in the team.
Aside the duo, Bosso has high hopes on AC Milan Victor Eletu to the extent that he reserved a spot for him in the team. Abdullahi comes highly recommended but side by side with the other names. He looks the odd choice in the mix.
Likely To Start – Nnadi, Daga, Lawal
Forwards: Ibrahim Mohammed ‘Beji’, Jude Sunday, Lawal Salem Fago, Emmanuel Umeh, Haliru Sarki, Kehinde Ibrahim.
Mowiz – Only the trio of Beji, Sunday and Sarki survived from the squad that was at the U20 AFCON. Among the new boys Bulgaria based Umeh is the one certain to get into the starting lineup with Ibrahim and Fago rated below him. Sunday and Beji will no doubt keep their spot on the right and left side of attack respectively.
Likely To Start- Beji , Jude, Umeh.
