Winning the title is not a priority for Nigeria - Bosso

Olamilekan Adams on duty for Nigeria's U20s.

AFCON U20 Winning the title is not a priority for Nigeria - Bosso

Clive Kyazze 11:32 - 20.02.2023

The seven-time winners lost their opening game of the competition to Senegal at Cairo International Stadium on Sunday.

Teams come for championships with different objectives and ambitions; winning is usually the ultimate target for many, while others focus on development.

Nigerian's head coach Ladan Bosso at the ongoing U20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, falls in the latter category.

The seven-time winners lost their opening game of the competition to Senegal at Cairo International Stadium on Sunday.

"Nigeria has won it (the competition) seven times, but it is not all about winning; it is about development," Bosso said after the game.

"I want to believe that at the end of the competition, about three or four players should be promoted to the Super Eagles. If it happens, then I will know that I have worked," he added.

Bosso has his objectives at the tournament laid out: “I trust the team and their ability to qualify for the next round, and I believe if we can have a change of attitude, we can achieve our World Cup goal. "

Against Senegal, Bosso believes the Flying Eagles were the better side but failed to make it count in the final third.

"We failed to take our chances, particularly in the first 15 minutes of the game, they had their chance in the last 15 minutes of the first half, and they took it," Bosso explained.

"We need to work on finishing our chances, and defend well because that is what they did, scored late in the first half, came back, and defended their goal," he noted.

Nigeria will be back in action on Wednesday against hosts Egypt, the latter played to a barren draw with Mozambique earlier on Sunday.