Nigeria’s Flying Eagles were eliminated in the semi-finals of the 2023 U20 African Cup of Nations, which is currently taking place in Egypt.

Team head coach Ladan Bosso has apologized to Nigerians without reservation and further explained why they performed so poorly.

Although though they lost their opening match, 1-0, to the Senegalese Young Teranga Lions, they recovered well for the remaining two group games and the quarterfinal.

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Then, after a performance that receives harsh condemnation from the nation’s football stakeholders and supporters, they collapsed once more against Gambia in the semifinal.

Bosso used the news conference to express regret to Nigerians prior to the loser’s final.

“Unfortunately in the sense that we didn’t plan to play the loser’s game, unfortunately, at least we got the world cup ticket and which was the target given to me by the federation.

“We should be able to take something at least in the medal table in a tournament like this so we have to forget what happened in the semi-finals even when you look at the semi-finals the average football administrator, the average football-loving person believed that we were better off than the Gambians themselves but as usual sometimes luck plays it part that was our shortcomings that was what took us down.

“I have to apologize to Nigerians ok some of those things that happened from the coming of these players.

Up to five players were not called up at certain times. After presenting the final list of 25, at least two or three players—key players who made mistakes with their documentation and medications—were impacted in Abuja.

“I believe that adjustment and readjustments with the team like missing some key players and even getting to this level at least should appreciate God”, he said.