Dream Team manager, Samson Siasia
The Dream Team failed to scored in Sunday’s first leg qualifier and have a great deal of work to do when they go to Lusaka
The Nigeria U23 side was held to a goalless draw by Zambia at the National Stadium, Abuja in their All Africa Games qualifying match.
It leaves the Dream Team with a lot to do when they visit Lusaka in a fortnight.
Fighton Simukonda’s side remained resolute throughout the encounter as his boys withstood the firepower of the Nigerians who could not pierce the Zambian defence despite scoring six past Gabon in the previous round.
After the game, coach Samson Siasia vowed to win the return leg in Lusaka to qualify for the 2015 All Africa Games.
“We just need to get our acts together to make sure we prepare better and do well in front of the goal in the second leg,” Siasia said.
“The boys, however, played very well, they kept possession but failed to score goals. I think they did better than the last game they played here against Gabon. So they have improved.
“Because we didn’t score today does not mean that they are a bad team, they are a good team. It’s just that the connection didn’t work out today but hopefully when we get to Zambia it will.
“I am disappointed that we couldn’t score. We created good chances in the first half and second half too but we couldn’t score any. I am also disappointed that we didn’t win today’s game.
“Why I have the confidence that we will beat Zambia to qualify for the All Africa Games is when you look at the Zambians you can ask how many chances did they create? I think it’s just one or two. My players played from their heart. So I don’t think the game is over. We will go [to Lusaka] and create chances and try to bury them in the second leg,” Siasia assured.
Zambian coach Simukonda said his team came with a plan and tactics which was to frustrate the Nigerians and it worked out perfectly well.
He also disclosed that their plans were to beat the Nigerian team or better still get a draw which they got eventually.
“We knew that the Nigerian team will come out to attack us so we prepared to defend and defend well which we did. Our plan was to frustrate them so that if we get a draw here we will go back home and finish the job. The Nigerian team had chances but they lost their chances. In football if you don’t use your chances it is over,” Simukonda said.
“We actually came here to win or better still frustrate the Nigerian team and use counter attack to score.”
But he warned that the Nigerian team is a good side that can also get a result in Zambia in the second leg.
“In the second leg anything can happen in football. If Nigeria prepare well, good luck for them. But this time around we [will be] playing at home in front of our home supporters. So I don’t see Nigeria beating us,” he boasted.
