I want to coach the Super Eagles – Flying Eagles boss sees World Cup as springboard to ultimate target

Ladan Bosso, the head coach of Nigeria's U20 national team, the Flying Eagles, has denied allegations that he received bribes from agents to include players in his squad for the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.

Speaking to The Punch in a recent interview, Bosso dismissed the claims as baseless, saying that he and his coaching crew had turned down attempts by agents to bribe them.

According to Bosso, his ultimate goal is to coach the Super Eagles, Nigeria's senior national team, and any wrongdoing could hurt his chances of achieving that dream. He stated he was committed to selecting players based on merit and performance rather than accepting bribes.

“I want anybody to come out and say his player made my team because he paid me money,” Bosso said in the interview. “People wanted to indulge us with money to use their players, but we sacked their players to avoid national embarrassment. So, the issue of bribery is not true.”

Bosso led the Flying Eagles to qualify for the World Cup following the team's third-place finish at the CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

The 55-year-old insists that his primary focus was on doing well with the Flying Eagles, as success with the team at the 2023 FIFA U20 World Cup would increase his chances of being promoted to coach the Super Eagles.

He emphasized the importance of selecting players based on their abilities rather than their connections or financial influence.

“These are the kind of things that I am looking forward to, and that is my target,” Bosso said. “I want to see myself in the Super Eagles on merit, and the only way I can see myself coaching the Super Eagles is to do well with this team so that me and the players can be promoted.”

Portuguese tactician Jose Peseiro is presently the head coach of the Super Eagles, and he is assisted by Finidi George, Salisu Yusuf, and Ike Shorunmu.