AFCON U20: Limited coaching and four other takeaways from Flying Eagles 1-0 loss to Gambia

Nigeria’s 1-0 loss to Gambia’s Young Scorpions in the semifinals of the CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations was a disappointing one for the Flying Eagles.

The game had several key takeaways that are worth noting. Here are five of them:

Dominance doesn’t guarantee success

Despite dominating possession with a 62.5% possession and having 162 accurate passes compared to Gambia’s 86, Nigeria still lost the match.

The first half was Nigeria’s best half of the tournament, but they couldn’t capitalize on their dominance, conceding a cheap goal early in the game.

This highlights the importance of taking chances when they arise, regardless of how dominant a team may be. 

Ineffective attacking play

In the first half alone, Nigeria had eight attempts at goal to Gambia’s one, but only two of those attempts were on target.

This indicates a lack of quality in the attacking third. The team’s wingers were ineffective, and their centre-forward, Ayuba, was poor. The lack of a cutting edge in front of goal ultimately cost Nigeria the match.

Limited coaching

The Gambians looked more organized and better drilled than the Flying Eagles.

Ladan Bosso, the coach of the Nigerian team, deserves credit for qualifying the team for the World Cup, but the team he has put together is uninspiring.

Bosso’s limited tactical acumen was exposed in the game, which is a worrying sign for Nigeria’s U-20 team.

Poor set-piece performance

Despite having ten corner kicks in the first half, Nigeria failed to make them count. The Flying Eagles even missed a penalty late in the game. 

This highlights the team’s poor set-piece performance. Set pieces can be a crucial part of a team’s attacking strategy, and Nigeria’s inability to capitalize on them was a missed opportunity.

Insufficient quality players

The Flying Eagles had only two or three players who could be praised for their quality in the match and, by extension, at this championship.

To excel at the World Cup, the Baby Eagles need better-quality footballers. Only a more competitive squad can lift Nigeria to compete at the highest level.

In conclusion, Nigeria’s loss to Gambia in the semifinals of the CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations was a disappointing one.

The team needs to improve in several areas to compete effectively in the upcoming World Cup. Nigeria’s U-20 team must address the deficiencies identified if they hope to compete at the highest level.