Abdulazeez Abdulwahab
THE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced the appointment of the Technical Adviser of El-Kanemi Warriors, Zubairu Aliyu, as the Head Coach of the Flying Eagles, Nigeria’s U-20 team. He replaces erstwhile coach Ladan Bosso.
Zubairu’s appointment was announced on Tuesday, just over a month after the NFF announced the window for prospective coaches to apply for the job. There is, however, no evidence of calls for applications, no known process of selection, and no form of merit in ensuring the best and brightest handle these youngsters.
Ladan Bosso handled the team at the African Games in Ghana, as well as the U-20 AFCON and FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2023.
The NFF said the appointment of the coach is based on the recommendation of its Technical and Development Sub-Committee.
The appointment of Zubairu, who led El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri to win the President Federation Cup at the expense of Abia Warriors FC in Lagos in June, takes immediate effect.
The Warriors have since crashed out of the CAF Confederation Cup after losing 2-1 on aggregate to Benin Republic’s Daje FC in the preliminary Round.
They, however, opened their campaign in the 2024/2025 NPFL season with a 0-0 draw at defending champions Rangers last Saturday.
Zubairu’s immediate task is to put together and prepare a team for the WAFU B U20 Championship, scheduled for October/November in Togo, where the zone’s representative will emerge for next year’s Africa U20 Cup of Nations.
The former Wikki Tourists coach replaces one of the longest-serving coaches of the team, Ladan Bosso, who recently joined Bayelsa United as the Technical Adviser.
Eighteen-Eleven Media