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"Why Nigeria Could Not Defeat Iran" – Keshi Reveals

Published

10 years ago

June 17, 2014

The Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi has revealed why the team, yesterday, June 17 ended up with a goalless draw with Iran in their first match at the on-going FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
Stephen Keshi told FIFA.COM that he blamed their performance on lack of inspiration.
He said: “We played very well in the first half. The forwards were very active and they had a couple of chances to score, though we couldn’t put them away. We lost our shape in the second half,” he said. “I felt we could have won the game but we were lacking a bit of inspiration on the pitch.”
Keshi who is still hopeful that his team will perform better also said: “We saw what happened with Costa Rica and with Holland and Spain, so in football you can never tell. Sometimes it goes your way, sometimes it doesn’t.
“Just because we didn’t win people think we played badly. I don’t think we played badly, it was just that we didn’t score the goals we needed.”
It was earlier reported that the Super Eagles captain, Austin Okocha blamed Stephen Keshi for the team’s failure to score during the match.
Keshi, apart from criticising his team’s second half performance, however, commended the Iranians saying: “All credit to Iran,”. “They stuck to their game plan and were able to put it into practice from start to finish.”
The Nigerian Super Eagles have now gone nine FIFA World Cup games without a single win, with their last victory coming in France 98.
Although some Nigerians have criticized the super eagles, losing hope in the team. Others, however, are optimistic they could perform better in their next match with Bosnia on Saturday in Group F before a final group game against one of the tournament favourites, Argentina.