Bosso, Ilechukwu deny Eagles coaching rumours

Bayelsa United coach Ladan Bosso and Enugu Rangers handler Fidelis Ilechukwu have distanced themselves from rumours linking them to the Super Eagles job as assistants to the new incoming coach, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

A new coach is expected to be announced for the Super Eagles in the coming days ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations matches against Benin Republic and Rwanda in September.

According to multiple reports, ex-Sweden coach Janne Andersson is in pole position to become Nigeria’s new coach following the untimely resignation of Finidi George in June. The 61-year-old Andersson failed to qualify his country for the 2022 World Cup and 2024 Euros.

While Andersson was making the news as the preferred choice of the Nigeria Football Federation, Bosso and Ilechukwu were also mentioned as his potential assistants.

New Bayelsa United coach, Bosso, who has been in charge of the Flying Eagles on different occasions dispelled the rumours.

“As far as I am concerned, all these are fabricated and propaganda by people,” Bosso told PUNCh Sports Extra.

“If there is anything like that, I am sure I would be called by the policymakers. Nobody in the NFF has called me and I have never seen where assistant coaches are appointed before the head coach. It’s rumour as far as I am concerned.”

“I don’t know. I saw it the saw you saw it as well,” Ilechukwu also told PUNCH Sports Extra.

“I never can tell what is going on. I am a coach and I am open to the national team job to contribute positively. If they call me, I will be there but right now my focus is on Enugu Rangers, the CAF Champions League and the NPFL.”

While Bosso had worked with the Flying Eagles until recently, Ilechukwu is also not new to national team jobs having been named as an assistant to Salisu Yusuf in the national U-23 team in 2022.

He joined Enugu Rangers from Plateau United last season and guided the Flying Antelopes to their eighth league title and first since 2016.

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