Keshi Rues Eagles’ loss; Blames Players’ Poor Tactical Approach
Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi has expressed his disappointment over his team’s woeful performance in their 3-2 AFCON qualifier loss to Congo in Calabar on Saturday.
The Eagles showed lack of inspiration and spirit in a match that if won, would have allowed them mount early pressure on Group A leaders South Africa, who won 3-0 in Sudan.
Keshi, who is now in South Africa for the second match of the group stage qualifier on Wednesday, has urged Nigerians to continue to support the team in their bid to earn the maximum 3 points in Cape Town.
He said: “It’s football. Brazil lost 7-1 and we lost (on Saturday). Everybody is going to lose someday. We cannot win all the games all the time. This is where we need the media and Nigerians. They have to be behind the team, so that we can go to South Africa and win.
“I’m very disappointed. It was not just the result but the way we played in the first half. I was like a soothsayer because I saw it coming and I talked to the boys that they had to be aggressive and first to the ball.”
Keshi also lashed his side for their poor tactical approach and inability to convert chances, especially in the first-half.
“I’ve played against the Congolese team before and I know they play tip-tap football. We scored the first goal and that was it. It’s a shame that we had opportunities, mostly in the second half, but we could not score.
“I told them (players) they were not playing their game. They were not themselves, they were not playing, they were second to the ball and they needed to change the mentality.
“They came back in the second half and you could see the difference. But if you are playing a team like this, they are going to come hard and park the bus. And that’s what they did in the second half. Who won’t do it?
“I can understand the frustration, the Congolese team delaying the game, killing the game. It became an anger problem and its part of the game.”
