Super Eagles Home-based goalkeeper, Chigozie Agbim, has told Nigerian football lovers not to lose any sleep on the team’s possible qualification for this year’s edition of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) after they defeated Cote d’Ivoire 4-1 in the first leg cracker played at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna.
The former Golden Eaglets Seychelles 2001 keeper who expressed his displeasure on the lone goal scored by the opponent noted that:
“The game was okay. Although we did pretty well, we conceded a sloppy goal when our defenders went to sleep.
“We switched off at the wrong time and we paid for it, we have learnt our lessons and we will not make such mistakes again,” Agbim said.
Coach Stephen Keshi was visibly angry at the goal that was conceded and Agbim confirmed that indeed Keshi was disappointed with the goal.
“The coach congratulated us for the win but also expressed his sadness over the goal we let in, he felt we should have done better. We had some new boys in the team, but we have all learnt from the game.
“We will approach the second leg with all seriousness and we call on all Nigerians to continue to support the team in our quest to qualify for the Chan and ultimately the World Cup,” Agbim enthused.
Nigeria beat Ivory Coast 4-1 through goals from Gambo Mohammed, a brace by Sunday Mba and a late strike via Ifeanyi Ede. Coulibaly Tiecoura got the Ivorians only goal of the game to set the stage for the second leg in the weekend of July 20 and 21.
