Nigeria’s Under 23 squad
Nigeria’s U-23 Team players in training
From: Diana Okon-Effiong,Port Harcourt
Samson Siasia, Head Coach of Nigeria’s U-23 Dream Team, said that the Congolese U-23 Team was lucky to concede only two goals in the July 19 Olympic qualifier.
Siasia said this in an interactive session with sports journalist after the match at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt. He also said that the Dream Team missed their chances.
“If we had utilised the chances we had we will scored more than four goals, Coach Claude Leroy and his ward should be lucky that we did not score up to four goals. It is not being disrespectful to say you need at least four goals against your opponent. He came in and said he had defeated us before,” he said.
Siasia also said that although he is comfortable with the result the team needed to “go back and work on why we are not able to utilie our chances”.
He said that his game plan was to score enough goals to make it easier for the Dream Team when they travel to Congo because “nobody knows what will happen there”.
Siasia thanked Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers and Port Harcourt fans for giving the Nigerian team the needed support that gave them victory over the visitors.
Captain of the Dream Team, Azubuike Okechukwu said they played to
instructions but were not able to utilise their chances.He said his side was better than the Congolese, adding that they will work harder to do better.
“The 2-1 is not a very good result but it is also good because we won, we will go over there and fight them to get result,” he said.
Claude Leroy, Coach of the Congolese U-23 team said the host team was better than his side but was hopeful that they would qualify. Leroy said football is full of humility and that he saw Nigeria as a country in Africa that would be world champions in football.
“Today we are lucky to loose 2-1 because they created a lot of chances but we need to win them with 2-0 or 1-0 when they come to Congo. My team is made up of young players and I know it would be more difficult for us
at home,” he said.
Our regional correspondent reports that Ajayi Oluwafemi of the Nigerian Dream team scored a brace in the 48th and 54th minute.
The Congolese U-23 midfielder, Moise Nkounkon, scored the lone goal for his side in the 67th minute.
Junior Makiesse received the only yellow card of the match for upending Dream Team’s left winger and goal scorer, Ajayi Oluwafemi, in the 61st minute.
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