Keshi blasts Malawi goal as 'unacceptable'
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Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has described as “unacceptable” a
last-minute equaliser by Malawi against his team in Blantyre.
The Super Eagles were running away with three points after Gabriel Rueben’s 89th minute goal only for the home team to draw level two minutes into stoppage time of this 2014 World Cup qualifier.
“To score late in the match and lose the lead is totally unacceptable and we have to go and work on our weaknesses,” said a very disappointed Keshi on the team’s return to Nigeria Sunday afternoon.
“This is a fairly new team and it takes time for us to reach the level that our established players have reached.
“But I’m happy that the players did well but unfortunately lost valuable points in the last minute. We created chance after chance in the first half and refused to take them.”
Midfielder Raheem Lawal wept uncontrollably after the game and said he felt a personal sense of loss after the 1-1 draw in Malawi because he was the one who lost the ball in midfield that eventually led to the equaliser.
The team will resume training in Abuja Monday morning, which will involve players who played no part in the encounter against Malawi.
However, the evening training will involve all the players.
The Eagles will now depart Tuesday for Calabar, where they will engage Rwanda in a 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the weekend.
The first leg in Kigali in February finished in a goalless draw.
The Super Eagles were running away with three points after Gabriel Rueben’s 89th minute goal only for the home team to draw level two minutes into stoppage time of this 2014 World Cup qualifier.
“To score late in the match and lose the lead is totally unacceptable and we have to go and work on our weaknesses,” said a very disappointed Keshi on the team’s return to Nigeria Sunday afternoon.
“This is a fairly new team and it takes time for us to reach the level that our established players have reached.
“But I’m happy that the players did well but unfortunately lost valuable points in the last minute. We created chance after chance in the first half and refused to take them.”
Midfielder Raheem Lawal wept uncontrollably after the game and said he felt a personal sense of loss after the 1-1 draw in Malawi because he was the one who lost the ball in midfield that eventually led to the equaliser.
The team will resume training in Abuja Monday morning, which will involve players who played no part in the encounter against Malawi.
However, the evening training will involve all the players.
The Eagles will now depart Tuesday for Calabar, where they will engage Rwanda in a 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the weekend.
The first leg in Kigali in February finished in a goalless draw.
Mikel is still needed in the team. Mikel is the only world-class midfielder we have in the country right now and one of the very few players in top notch clubs in Europe. If Mikel is not giving its best, it is thework of the coach and the team psychologist to get the best out of him. Also, that a player does not play well in the national team may not be intentional. Despite his pedigree, Christiano Ronaldo, has lost several goalscoring chances at the ongoing European Cup tournament. Should he be vilified by Portugal because of that ? Mikel is one of the best footballers Nigeria has ever produced and we should support him to grow higher rather than pull him down.
Keshi will FAIL....Mikel in or out of the team
Mikel Obi almost ruined the super eagles with his unpatriotic behaviour
Keshi may not be as good as Siasia, one mistake Siasia made was the frequent use of Mikel Obi. Let me warn Keshi that the day he recalls Mikel Obi to the team that say day his failure starts. Mikel Obi should never be invited to the national team, let Good Luck Jonathan invite him home or even give his daughter or sister to Mikel Obi for marriage, Keshi be warned, do not call Mikel Obi to your team.
Leave Keshi alone, he needs time to build the team from scratch!! Rome was not built in a day. Keshi! we are with you!!! c'mon eagles!!! Brazil 2014, here we come!!!
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