South Korea, June 2, 2016 – Coach Samson Siasia has attributed his team’s defeat in the opening game of the 4 –Nation Suwon Invitational Tournament in South Korea to fatigue. Siasia said so at the post match press conference following his team’s 0-1 defeat by the host nation at the Suwon World Cup Stadium.
SIASIA BLAMES FATIGUE FOR U-23 TEAM’S LOSS
According to the tactician, his players were not able to play their game as they were still suffering from jet lag occasioned by the long flight from Abuja. “The flight didn’t help matters, but then that is not an excuse for us not getting at least a point from this game.
“The goal scored by the Koreans was made possible because my players were adopting offside tactics; I don’t know where they got that idea from as we have never kept offside in all our training and games. I am happy the NFF did everything to make us come for this competition as it has exposed the boys to see things from a bigger perspective, even though I wanted us to win this game to boost our confidence. The boys now know that they have to sit up in the other games.”
The African champions lost to an 86th minute goal scored by South Korea’s Choi Kyubaek from a free kick which caught the Nigerian defence –line ball watching. Nigeria plays Denmark, 4-3 winners over Honduras, in her next game on Saturday at the Suwon Invitational Tournament.