The Super Eagles handler is disappointed that his side could not get past Claude Le Roy’s side despite taking the lead in Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier
Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has lamented his team’s 3-2 defeat to the Red Devils of Congo in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier played in Calabar on Saturday.
Efe Ambrose had given the Super Eagles the lead in the 14th minute before a brace from Thierry Bifouma inspired a comeback win for Claude Le Roy’s men.
Speaking after the game, the former Mali and Togo gaffer said he wasn’t satisfied with the way his team played in the first half despite instructing them to be aggressive.
“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 said after the game.
“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,” Keshi said immediately after the game,” he continued.
“I told them 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.
“It’s football. Brazil lost 7-1 and we lost today (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,” he concluded.
Nigeria are now placed third in Group A of the qualifiers behind leaders South Africa defeated Sudan 3-0 while Congo sit in second place.
