The Super Eagles team is still undergoing reconstruction with bunch of young players who will very soon take the world by storm. These were the words of the Super Eagles chief coach coach, Stephen Keshi, after the team lost 2-1 to Uruguay in the second group B game in the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil.
“This team is still growing. We are the youngest team at this tournament and this competition is going to help in the development of these players. We are still rebuilding, but very soon we will catch up with the rest of the world.”
Nigeria next face world champions Spain, and Keshi has no doubts about how he wants his team to play.
“It doesn’t matter who we are playing, as long as the boys do what we want them to do, we will just play our game,” he said.
“Against Uruguay they did everything we asked them to do. We had more possession, we had more shots on goal, but we just didn’t take our chances.”
The former Eagles captain noted that his players played to instructions and could have got a result against Uruguay but for a lapse in concentration.
Diego Lugano had given the South Americans the lead, but John Obi Mikel equalised with a fine finish. However, Diego Forlan netted the winner in his 100th match for the national team.
“My players played well and played to instructions,” Keshi said. “It was just one minute’s lack of concentration that made the difference, otherwise it was good.”
Prior to the Confederations Cup, Keshi said he wanted to use the tournament to give some exposure to his players. He insisted that that objective was still the case.
The Eagles left for Fortaleza on Friday morning where they will face the world champions.