• Says new defenders need time to blend
• Happy with his attackers
• Happy with his attackers
U-23 national coach, Samson Siasia believes his players were lucky not to lose to Mali who came close to drawing level in Sunday’s group B opening match of the Africa U-23 Nations Championship. Nigeria won the encounter 3-2 to top the group.
“It was a difficult match. We played very well in the beginning and scored three goals. The defenders made two mistakes which cost us, and they (Mali) scored twice. The defenders panicked and they (Mali) almost equalised. I guess we were lucky to escape,” said the coach.
“I am very happy and also thank God Almighty for winning the first group match against Mali. The first game of every tournament is always very difficult and needs to be handled with utmost care if not you may lose the game and put serious pressure on the team in the remaining two matches of the group. Now that we won the first match we know what to do to win the second that we expect will be more difficult and technical. Playing against Egypt won’t be easy at all but we will work hard on the field of play to win the match”, Siasia told SportingLife from Senegal yesterday.
Ahead of Wednesday’s second game against Egypt, Siasia has promised to parade a more desperate and result oriented team. The coach sees the match as a titanic battle, as who wins will qualify for the next round of the competition. The competition serves as Africa’s qualifiers to determine its representatives for the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.
Siasia, who showed appreciation to all Nigerians that supported him when his mother, Madam Beauty Ogere Siasia was kidnapped before she was rescued by the Bayelsa State Police in the early hours of Saturday, urged Nigerians to be patient with his team as they won’t disappoint.
“We have identified the problematic area in the team which is the defense line. We have always paraded a very strong defense line but the inclusion of some new players has not made the line to be very effective against the Malians. The players that have joined are some of the best we have in the league but just needed time to blend together. I can assure everybody that they will leave up to their billings in the next match against Egypt.
He also showered praises on his forward line comprising Taiwo Awoniyi, Junior Ajayi and Etebor Oghenekaro. “The boys did everything most especially in the first half to get the goals. I am very optimistic that the team will perform better against Egypt. Junior Ajayi was exceptionally good in the match,”Siasia said.