“The team to beat” – Olympic gold medalist tips Flying Eagles to crush all opposition in Egypt

The seven-time continental champions will target a record eighth title and a World Cup ticket when the youth Championship begins next month

1996 Atlanta Olympic Games gold medalist Joseph Dosu has backed Flying Eagles head coach Ladan Bosso to put together a solid team capable of going all the way to win the 2023 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.

Nigeria are the most successful team at the U20 Championship with seven titles but the team has not tasted glory in eight years with the last title triumph coming in 2015.

But the Flying Eagles raised the hopes of their teeming fans last year when they defeated all-comers, including Benin Republic in the final, to win the WAFU Zone B competition.

Head coach Bosso has, however, opted to add more foreign-based youngsters to that conquering team while some of the players have been dropped ahead of the Afcon proper.

Former national team goalkeeper Joseph Dosu is confident that the chopping off of old players and the addition of new ones will only make the Eagles stronger.

And Dosu has expressed optimism that coach Bosso's final team will make the nation proud in Egypt. 

“I am very optimistic of the Flying Eagles winning the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt,” Dosu told Complete Sports.

“The players that Ladan Bosso has invited are very exciting and will for sure make the country proud.

“Yes it won't be easy, however, I have no doubt that they will be the team to beat.”
Nigeria's primary task in Egypt will be to make it out of a tough Group A that also has the hosts, Senegal, and Mozambique.

The Flying Eagles will begin their Afcon campaign with an opening-day clash against host Egypt on February 19 in Cairo.