Super Eagles B team coach, Imama Amapakabo, has vehemently rejected suggestions that the team underrated Hawks of Togo in Sunday’s 2020 African Nations Championship qualifier in Lome, Togo, hence the shock 4-1 defeat, Completesports.com reports.
Hawks came from behind to defeat the Eagles after Sunusi Ibrahim’s goal had taken Nigeria in front 10 minutes after kick off. Richard Nane’s brace (16th, 67th minutes), Tchakei Marouf’s penalty kick goal in the 75th minute and Agoro Ashraf’s stoppage time strike secured the massive win for Hawks.
The embarrassing result has now put Nigeria at the risk of elimination from qualifying for a tournament they emerged as runners up last year in Morocco.
Amapakabo has come under intense criticism for the scandalous defeat, with suggestions they may have under estimated the potentials of their hosts, Togo.
The Enugu Rangers NPFL title winning coach in 2016 attributes the heavy defeat to inability of his young team to cope with the experience of the hosts who paraded their very experienced national team.
“No, we did not underrate our opponents, Togo, never,” Amapakabo said.
“It would be foolish to underrate your your opponent in a game of this nature.
“The truth is that we fielded a predominantly young team that could not really live up to expectation technically, compared to the senior players that the Togolese paraded who have gained experience and exposure over the years.
“We have put the game behind. It is a learning curve. We have taken the positives and have to move forward for the return leg match.”
Amapakabo remains optimistic that his team haa not lost out in the race to earn CHAN 2020 berth.
“It is absolutely wrong to think or conclude that this (first leg) match would determine the team that qualifies.
“It is a game of two halves, one half has been played, another half still remains to be decided.
“We know for a fact that no two games are ever the same. Between now till October 19, when the return leg match would be played is still quite enough time (for us) to make amends.
“It is after the return leg match in Nigeria that the picture would become clear as to who qualifies.”
By Sab Osuji
10 Comments
Mr man shut it there look at this shameless man na wa for this local coach,so u are going to beat them 4 nil,i call it medicine after death,my friend go and eat ur Eba and egusi soap,and take some ogogolo then u sleep,nonsense
It’s not over until we win… Impossible is nothing
I see this coach has learnt greatly from his Oga “Rohr”. Using young team narrative to defend himself. Imama, go and hide your face in shame, qualify or get fired!!
Pls which young team the coach talking he has? Go through your players profile and talk to us .
I have said it before but people misunderstood me that this Man is joking with Nigerians,his team is average 25years,the keeper is above 30,i wonder what he meant by calling them young team,he have to assume his responsibility,he has failed let him accept that,
Hahaha another young eagles Nigerians where is the snake that swallowed the money?
Imama, please no excuses. It is an embarrassing result. It’s a shame. It’s high time you started getting good results on the road. No excuses at all. You decided to pick the young squad instead of experience.
This also brings the argument to include some home based players in the main Super Eagles squad into focus. We can all see the quality of the players we have back at home. I am not totally saying that the NPFL is not producing quality, but the major problem is that immediately after a major tournament, they leave the shores of the country.
Rohr is right by refusing to invite the home based players, as he will be the one to blame if he fails.
Just few days ago some confusionist were fighting each other here for the inclusion of home base players to the super Eagles. think u all can see now? What always pain me is that, should the coach heeds to their calls and maybe lose or draw the match aftermath of those players invitation the same set of people will be the one to start castigating him. People that have not manage ordinary their neighborhood team will come to complete sports page and started spewing rubbish to teach a man who had played and coached at the highest level who and who players to invite.
My friend Stephen Keshi did it and won the nation’s cup so it is not the players fault , it all depends on the sincerity of the coach and his readiness to work hard. This coach lost away to Libya, Sudan and now to Togo scandalously. NFF need to beef up the technical bench of this team and that of the U23 otherwise Nigeria may not qualify for Tokyo Olympics.
TO-GEAUX has used Nigeria to wipe the floor. Eye opening result, especially for those who still think we are global soccer giants. The reality is that we have no super stars. And with a non-functioning local league, we have very few if any local prospects. Even the foreign legion are just a collection of mainly average players. With mainly average players, Rohr has managed to take us to Afcon, world cup, and has supervised a rise in our ranking and reputation, so much so that we are now in a position to play a Brazil friendly. As Nigerians, we need to manage our expectations better. Some people are actually demanding that Rohr beat Brazil or face the sack! SMH.
The TO-GEAUX fiasco is stunning, to say the least. Notwithstanding, there is still hope. A 3 nil scoreline will see us thru. Imama and co will have to dig really dip to get themselves out of this awful mess. Otherwise, our CHAN dreams might be JACKIE-CHANed by Togo, and the team might end up in KAFANCHAN, instead of CHAN.