U20 AFCON: Ladan Bosso offers selection criteria to foreign pros joining Flying Eagles 

By Wale Mustapha

Head Coach of the Nigeria U20 side, Ladan Bosso has disclosed that selection will be based on merit following the arrival of foreign professionals camp to the Flying Eagles camp.

The Nigeria U20 team are gearing up for the U20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt next year and Bosso stressed that his final squad for the tourney will be picked based on mental toughness, not by where they play their trades.

“The mental toughness of national team players, the character of national team players is what we always suggest to these boys,” the WAFU-B winning gaffer told media at the weekend.

“Some of the players graduated from the U17 you can see them perform well at this level and that is what we want to see. Players graduating from U17, U20 to U23 cadre and then to the Super Eagles that is when we can think of having a solid team, by mid-January, professionals will start coming.

“All the foreign-based professionals will have to meet us here [FIFA Goal Project]. Let me assess them with my local boys otherwise no way,” Bosso said.

“I have watched these players play in their club sides and I have invited them to come and showcase their talents. I cannot invite two or three players in one position,” he continued.

“Sometimes maybe you give room to recommended players and most recommended players that come here are simply incomparable. That is why as a coach in most cases you assess yourself that at the end of the day whom do you  help among the players.

“Players you invited from nowhere and suddenly became something in life. That is the way we coaches assess ourselves,” he said.

Flying Eagles are the most successful teams in Africa winning the AFCON U20 championships a record seven times.