The head coach of the senior national team of Ivory Coast Jean-Louis Gasset has explained why his team lost 0-1 by the senior national team of Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations, OwngoalNigeria.com reports.
A 55th minute penalty from William Troost-Ekong won by Victor Osimhen ensured that the Nigerian picked up their first win of the tournament to go above the host with four points, while they dropped to third in the group behind Equatorial Guinea who were 4-2 winners over Guinea-Bissau in the other group game.
Reacting to the defeat, Gasset put it down to the Super Eagles playing a back five in a 3-4-3 formation and said Victor Osimhen was decisive for the fact that he won the penalty which led to the only goal of the game.
“It was a very physical match; Nigeria chose to play very low with a five-man defense to exploit counterattacks with their star striker. It was a tightly contested match. We didn’t give the impression of being able to compete physically. It was because of Nigeria’s best player ( Osimhen) that we lost”, Gasset said at the post match conference.
Nigeria will play their final group game against whipping boys of the group Guinea-Bissau while Ivory Coast will go in search of a spot in the round of 16 when they play the group leaders Equatorial Guinea in their final group game. Both games will be played on Monday.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
