Flying Eagles coach Abdu Maikaba is working to address the selection difficulties that damaged Nigeria’s WAFU Zone B Under-20 Championship run, with the side potentially set for another opportunity if CAF grants the zone an extra berth at the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations.

Possible AFCON reprieve after WAFU disappointment

Nigeria have not yet been officially awarded an additional place at the continental finals. Their WAFU B campaign in Côte d’Ivoire included two defeats to Burkina Faso, the second a 4-1 loss in the final in Yamoussoukro.

Maikaba said his squad selection was badly affected by documentation issues and by European teams declining to make some previously prepared players available.

• Several players who had made the squad were unable to take part because of passport-related problems.
• Other footballers involved in the team’s preparations were not released by their European clubs.
• The late disruption left the coaching staff struggling to find suitable replacements close to the tournament.

“We had a lot of issues the last time because so many of the players that made the team were eliminated because of passport issues,” Maikaba said. “We also had players that we prepared the team with that were not released by their clubs in Europe. It became so difficult replacing players in the dying minutes.”

Maikaba highlights Burkina Faso continuity

The Flying Eagles boss also pointed to the limited preparation period available to his own group, compared with the established Burkina Faso squad that beat Nigeria twice.

“Some of my players I only got to know basically three weeks before the start of the WAFU B competition. It is always difficult,” he said. “We were able to achieve something by getting to the final, and now there are speculations that we would be given the second slot to represent WAFU at the Under-20 AFCON.”

Maikaba said Burkina Faso’s strong understanding came from a group that had remained together through the age-grade system.

“Football is a team game; it is not an individual game,” he added. “Burkina Faso have been together for the last four years. They had the same team that represented them at the last FIFA Under-17 World Cup, and it is the same team that moved to the Under-20 stage. So understanding, cohesion and team play are there in the team.”

If Nigeria receive the additional AFCON slot, Maikaba believes a more thorough recruitment process will produce a different outcome.

“I have been doing my homework; if it happens that we are given that slot, most especially in the selection of players,” he said. “It will be different if we have another chance to play in the competition because I am doing a lot of homework to ensure we do not make those mistakes again.”

Bayelsa United development continues after Heartland defeat

Maikaba was speaking in Owerri following Bayelsa United’s 3-0 defeat to Heartland FC in a preseason friendly on Tuesday. He also manages the Bayelsa club and accepted that improvement is needed before the Nigeria National League season begins.

However, he felt the final score did not accurately show his side’s display, citing the difficulty his players had in adapting to the playing surface.

“I think this game won’t be the yardstick to judge the team, most especially because our boys found it difficult to play on this surface,” he said. “Despite the result, I liked the way our boys played. We created our own scoring chances and didn’t convert them, but it is a work in progress.”

• Maikaba said Bayelsa United have already made progress in their build-up patterns and midfield work.
• He identified collective defensive organisation and finishing as the next areas requiring attention.
• The club are putting together a young squad expected to improve early in the league campaign.

Bayelsa United are seeking a return to the Nigeria Premier Football League from an NNL section featuring Akwa United, Beyond Limits and Abakaliki FC.

Maikaba described promotion as a difficult assignment but said the club would pursue it fairly and through continued development of the group.

“It is a challenging task to promote the team back to the NPFL, but we are doing everything possible legitimately to make sure we actualise that objective,” he said. “We are building a young team, and, by the early stage of the league season, it should be at its best. Being at its best means winning games both home and away, and with that promotion is achievable.”