Nigeria: Nations Cup – We Only Did the Scoring- Siasia

Daily Independent (Lagos)

29 March 2011

Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia, has admitted despite scoring four goals against Ethiopia on Sunday, the Walya Antelopes outplayed his team in the midfield.

The goal rush that the fans asked for at the Abuja National Stadium Sunday night came to pass, but the overall performance of the team left very little to cheer as the Ethiopians simply crowded the midfield and relied on their short passing style to enjoy ball possession.

“We struggled in the midfield because we were not coming back on time. We had only two midfield players, Mikel and Joel (Obi). May be they (Ethiopia) had more number in that area and that was why most of the time they had possession,” admitted Siasia after this Nations Cup Group B clash.

“But in the second half, we changed a little and that was why we did a little better in the midfield because we changed the formation. We asked Obinna (Nsofor) to come back a little bit in the midfield.

“All the same, the Ethiopians gave us a good game. They kept possession, while we were doing the scoring. It is better to score more goals than keeping possession.

“The idea was to move forward and create more chances and try to score goals. We did what we were supposed to do.”

He further added: “We scored more goals which would help us in the future. So, if we keep repeating what we are supposed to do (in training and match situations) we will get better. We don’t have enough time to practice before games but as long as we come three, four days before a game, we will work more on what we are doing and keep our tactical discipline.

“We make sure we create more chances at goal and make sure we do a little better in the midfield. I think that will help.”

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