Bala Abubakar Abandon U23 Eagles For Niger Tornadoes

Bala Abubakar Abandon U23 Eagles For Niger Tornadoes

By Niyi Busari

Abubakar Bala, the assistant coach of the Nigeria U23 Eagles has not resumed back to the team's camp since he took two-day holiday last Thursday, BSNSports.com.ng can report.

The head coach of Niger Tornadoes, Bala and Kennedy Boboye are the two assistants to the head Coach, Salisu Yusuf.

When our correspondent visited the team's training at the Training Pitch 1 of the Moshood Abiola, Stadium Abuja on Monday and Tuesday, the Ikon Allah Boys coach was missing forcing Kennedy Boboye to be involved in taking the U23 Eagles in rigorous training session even with injury on his foot.

Responding to why he is not in Abuja with the national team, a backroom staff who pleaded anonymity told our correspondent that his absence affected the team's programmes because two assistant coaches (Fidelis Ilechukwu and Fatai Osho) were removed from the coaching crew by the NFF while Boboye who is on ground is injured. This has given the head coach a serious headache but he is trying to manage the situation.

Meanwhile, checks carried out on coach Bala Abubakar whereabouts showed that he may not return this week because Niger Tornadoes will play in the State Federation Cup semifinal at 4:00 pm today (Tuesday) while the FA Cup final holds on Sunday.

"He is here with us in Minna. One of the officials of Niger Tornadoes told BSN Sports.

"In fact, he will be on the bench when Niger Tornadoes play in the second State FA Cup semifinal with Maikunlele United at 4pm today (Tuesday) while we have final on Sunday if we qualify and there is no hitches from the Gubernatorial election in Niger State."

The Nigeria U23 national team will trade tackles with Guinea U23 team on 22nd March, 2023 at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja before traveling for the second leg few days later.