Nigeria’s youth national team, Flying Eagles coach, Paul Aigbogun will seek better blending and coordinated play for his lads in Wednesday’s second group match at the West African Football Union (WAFU) U-20 Cup in Lome, Togo, footballlive.ng reports.
Aigbogun was not satisfied with his side’s shaky performance in their first match against Niger Republic, as they struggled for rhythm and form, but the former Warri Wolves and Enyimba coach noted that it was because he had to play many of them out of position.
Nigeria need a draw to reach the semi-finals, having drawn goalless with Niger Republic, who beat Ghana 1-0 in their opening match, but Aigbogun admits the better approach for the midweek cracker is to play for victory.
One of the lads Aigbogun may count on from the start in Wednesday’s game is Real Sapphire Football Academy striker, Victor Boniface, who has been touted as the lad to lead the way versus Ghana, are thrilling as a substitute against Niger Republic.
Following poor form from his reliable players, including make shift top striker, Wasiu Alalade, in the draw against Niger, the onus has fallen on Boniface to show the way, after he excelled in the first game.
For the opening match, Aigbogun started as many as five new players on Sunday, but he admitted afterwards that they faced blending issues and will need to step up against the Black Meteors, who paid the price for poor efforts in front of goal, despite dominating possession against Niger.
Aside Boniface, Aigbogun will also count on Plateau United of Jos new signing, Abubakar Ibrahim Babawo, who was a potent force on the right wing during the Afirca U-20 Cup of Nations qualifiers.
However, Babawo had to play at right-back after the team’s preferred full-backs were knocked out by strict age rules guiding the competition, which declared players below 17-years ineligible to participate.
