Tunde Sulaiman
30 November 2011
Despite walking a tightrope to qualify for next year’s summer Olympics, Dream Team coach, Austin Eguavoen is refusing to throw in the towel insisting that “it is not over until it is over!”
Speaking after his side slumped to their second defeat at the CAF U23 Championships, Eguavoen acknowledged that the task would not be easy but would not give up as long as they still had a chance.
“It’s not so easy, we need to do a lot of psychological work on the boys; because many of them think it is all over. But I have to let them know it’s not over until it’s over. We need to pick the last three points and leave the rest to fate,” he said of the must win final game against Algeria on Friday.
While accepting responsibility for his side’s 2-1 loss to Senegal, the former Super Eagles skipper, however, insisted that this boys had not played to instructions in the first half, which was when the damage was done.
“I take responsibility for today’s result. The game did not go the way we planned because the boys did not keep to instructions in the first half,” he said.
Modou Kara opened scoring for the Senegalese in the 34th minute after goalkeeper, Dele Ajiboye miscalculated an in-swinger.
Eight minutes later, Abdoulaye Sane made it two after the Olympic Eagles defence line failed to clear their lines inside the box, allowing him the chance to blast the ball past Ajiboye’s near post.
In the second half, Uchechi Daniel pulled one back for Dream Team V in the 48th minute to give the Nigerians some hope. He also had another goal cancelled for offside.
However, despite huffing and puffing the Atlanta’ 96 Olympic gold medallists just could not find the second goal.
As things stand presently, for Nigeria to make the semi finals of the U-23 championship they must beat Algeria by at least three goals and hope that already qualified, Morocco beats Senegal by same margin.
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