AFCON 2023: Bosso confident despite Gambia’s 100 percent record

Gambia have been superb at the U-20 AFCON so far, but Bosso believes his side has the quality to progress

Flying Eagles coach Lasan Bosso is not disturbed by Gambia’s 100 percent record at the 2023 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations as he believes that his team will do enough to qualify for the final.

Nigeria’s U-20 team have already sealed the World Cup qualification, but they are hunting an eighth African crown in Egypt.

However, Bosso’s team have two more hurdles to cross before they can become champions of Africa again.

Nigeria play the Gambia in the semifinal on Monday at the Cairo International Stadium. And it promises to be an interesting tie. The Young Scorpions have been one of the best performers at the tournament.

Coach Abdoulie Bojang’s team have won all their games in the tournament. The Young Scorpions also sent a warning to other teams after their 5-0 thrashing of South Sudan in the quarterfinal.

Nigeria lost their opening game of the tournament, but they picked up after that, winning all their games since then.

Ahead of the clash in Cairo, Nigeria coach Bosso has revealed that his team would put on a good performance to secure a spot in the final.

 

“I’m happy to be back in Cairo once again after we played the last two matches in Ismailia,” Bosso said per the CAF website.

“Tomorrow we will face The Gambia who are a strong team and we respect them well but we will work to present a good level to win.

“We lost the first match and we have not lost any match since then.”

“We will face a team that has not been defeated in the tournament.

“The most important thing for us in the tournament is that we qualified for the World Cup. Now we will fight to win the title.

“There are no big or small teams in football because it’s only performance and result that counts,” Bosso added.

 

The last time the two teams met was during the U-20 tournament in Congo 16 years ago in the semifinal.

Nigeria won the tie 1-0 and progressed to the final where they were beaten by Congo. Bosso would look to spur his side to victory and help the Flying Eagles claim an eighth African crown.