A player of the Super Eagles has faulted the match balls used in their 0-2 loss to South Africa yesterday in the AFCON 2019 Qualifiers tie decided at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
Speaking to Owngoalnigeria.com on phone shortly after the game, he said they spent two weeks training and playing games with balls different from the ones that were used yesterday against South Africa.
The balls used were brought by the South Africans as Nigeria according to unconfirmed reports failed to raise money to clear the CAF match balls sent to them since January.
” We didn’t turn up and we lost. But to a large extent the ball didn’t help us. I’m not making excuses we are sorry that we lost and we are to be blame for it, but how about learning how to use a new ball on matchday? , we had to”, he said.
” All through our time in France we trained with the balls we used in Nigeria but on matchday we played with a different ball. It’s clear to see that we are not used to the ball from the way we were hitting the ball. We gathered NFF failed to clear the balls sent to them that’s why we were not able to train with it. It’s sad to say the least”.
Osas Mahawi
