Nigeria’s Under-23 team head coach, Samson Siasia has blamed carelessness and wastefulness for the semifinals 1-3 loss to Burkina Faso at the ongoing All Africa Games in Brazzaville, Congo.
A highly disappointed Siasia said he never imagined that his team could lose to the West African opponents let alone by the wide goal margin.
“I never imagined losing to Burkina Faso but then my midfielders played so well, my defenders and attackers let me down. Can you imagine my attackers not being able to convert about eight chances that came their way?
“To make matters worse the defenders were asleep on a day they should have been up and doing. Who told the central defenders to keep offside trap the way they did? I am totally disappointed.
“We can’t play like this in Senegal and expect to qualify for the 2016 Olympics. No way! We were so bad that anytime the ball beat the defenders even my goalkeeper could not stop any of the shots fired at him.
“Football is a team work where errors are bound to occur but it’s the ability of fellow teammates to cover for one another that makes a team great, that I didn’t see today,” said the former Super Eagles manager to www.thenff.com.
Siasia said he has learnt his mistakes from the semifinals defeat to Burkina Faso at the AAG in Brazzaville, Congo.
“We will make corrections after the AAG. I plan to travel to talk to some players I have already penciled down then hopefully the team should be assembling in the first week of October to prepare for the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations. Certainly, some of the players I brought to Congo Brazzaville will have to give way,” said Siasia.
Siasia apologised to Nigerians for letting them down by not qualifying for the All Africa Games men’s football final and bringing home the gold medal.
“I am not a man of excuses. I take all the blame for this collapse and will certainly make amends before the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations,” said the former Nigerian star.
The Dream Team VI will battle hosts, Congo for the bronze in the third place match while Burkina Faso will engage Senegal for the ultimate prize, gold.