Following the semi-final ouster of Nigeria’s Flying Eagles from the ongoing 2023 U20 African Cup of Nations in Egypt, the team head coach Ladan Bosso has tendered an unreserved apology to Nigerians and further revealed the reason for the poor showing.
Despite suffering a 1-0 defeat to the Young Teranga Lions of Senegal in the first game, they came back stronger in the two final group games and the quarter-final.
Before crumbling again in the semi-final against Gambia with a performance that draws massive criticism from the country’s football fans and stakeholders.
Ahead of the loser’s final, Bosso used the press conference to apologise to Nigerians.
“Unfortunately in the sense that we didn’t plan to play the loser’s game, unfortunately, at least we got the world cup ticket and which was the target given to me by the federation.
“We should be able to take something at least in the medal table in a tournament like this so we have to forget what happened in the semi-finals even when you look at the semi-finals the average football administrator, the average football-loving person believed that we were better off than the Gambians themselves but as usual sometimes luck plays it part that was our shortcomings that was what took us down.
“I have to apologize to Nigerians ok some of those things that happened from the coming of these players.
There are up to five players who missed some documentation.
In Abuja after giving the final list of 25 at least two, or three players were affected and these are key players who failed in the areas of documentation and medications.
“I believe that adjustment and readjustments with the team like missing some key players and even getting to this level at least should appreciate God”, he said.
