AFCON 2023: Ladan Bosso reveals how players’ agents lobby for Nigeria squad slot

By Wale Mustapha

Head coach of the Nigeria U20, Ladan Bosso says football agents have been offering him lots of gratification in exchange for selecting their players for the  U20 Africa Cup of Nations but he has been warding them off.

As the Nigeria’s U20 national team, Flying Eagles begin the final face of preparation for the U20 AFCON billed for Egypt next month, and the tactician admits there is high-level scheming for a place in the team’s selection.

“Since we opened camp, a lot of football agents have been making overtures to me.” Bosso told insidenews247.com.

“In fact, just recently, some European football agents approached me and offered me 100,000 Euros (about 88 million Naira) that they’ll be sole rights owners of all the players in the Nigerian U-20 team should they get any offer from clubs during the championship in Egypt.

“Of course, I turned down the offer, because my team selection is based on merit. Our preparation is a continuous process of substitution by elimination. I want to be held responsible, should the team fails, which I am not praying for to happen.

“I don’t delegate my duties to my assistant coaches. I am always involved in the team’s build-up and preparations to the championship,” he said.

The Africa U-20 Cup of Nations is expected to take place in Egypt between February 18 and March 12, 2023.

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles are in group A with the host Egypt, Mozambique, Senegal. The final four teams will qualify for the FIFA U-20 World Cup scheduled to hold in Indonesia from May 20 to June 11, 2024.