Eaglets’ stumble, a big lesson - Bosso

The failure of the nation's U-17 team, Golden Eaglets by the Republic of Benin in the qualifying series for the African Championship is a big eye–opener, says the Head Coach of the U-20 national team, Isah Ladan Bosso.

The defending champions were thoroughly mauled by the Young Squirrels, who won a second round, second leg match 3-0 at the Stade de L’Amitie last Sunday to go through to the third and final round of the qualifying on 3-2 aggregate.

The result means the Eaglets will not be defending their African title in Algeria next year and will only have the opportunity to defend their FIFA U-17 World Cup finals next year if FIFA confirms Nigeria as the host nation.

“It is clear that there are no longer minnows in the game; every team has to work hard. I am surprised that the Eaglets lost to Benin Republic. This tells us that we have to be more serious in our approach against Sudan. Nothing must be left to chance”, said Bosso.

Bosso led the Flying Eagles to the quarter–finals of the FIFA U-20 World Cup finals in Canada last year, and know the price of failure as he was the beneficiary of the dismissal of Coach Godwin Koko Uwua for the team’s poor play at the African Youth Championship in Congo, despite reaching the final.

The Flying Eagles take on Sudan at the National Stadium, Abuja on September 27, in the first leg of last round of qualifying for the Rwanda 2009 African Youth Championship.

“There will be no mercy for Sudan. I have put all my players on notice and it is total war as we want to be in Rwanda”.

36 players, including 11 foreign–based, who have started arriving in the country. The foreign–based includes; Ganiyu Oseni, Rabiu Ibrahim, Macauley Chrisantus, Alfa Yakubu, Uchechi Daniel, Alimi Jamiu, Lukman Haruna, Kingsley Udoh, Kabiru Akinsola, Kennedy Eriba and Joseph Thompson.

The Home–based list has Obum Ihebueme (Ebonyi Angels), Uche Okafor, Reuben Gabriel (Kaduna United), Oladele Ajiboye (Prime FC), Afolabi Abdulwaheed, Joshua Obaje (Lobi Stars), Michael Egbeta, Solomon Okpoko (Sharks), Gbolahan Salami, Abel Oluwashina, Vincent Atabo (Sunshine Stars), Mathew Edile (Unattached), Emenike Nkume (Rangers), Tswanya Samuel (Niger Tornadoes), Shagari Shehu, Bala Mohammed (Kano Pillars), Nura Nakargo, Obiora Nwankwo (Wikki), Nnanna Michael, Uche Dennis (Gateway FC), Nosa Emmanuel (FC Abuja), Osanga King (Akwa United), Kingsley Okoronkwo (Bussdor), Chijioke Nwankwo (Heartland).