The Flames of Malawi coach, Tom Saintfiet, has admitted that his team’s game plan was destroyed after Super Eagles striker Emmanuel Emenike scored the opening in the half-time.
The Fenerbahce forward latched into a sublime ball over the top from Ogenyi Onazi and dispatched with ease with just 30 seconds to the break.
Saintfiet was quick to point to the goal as the turn-around point “Our objective was to hold Nigeria until half-time,” he said.
“Because we know that if they go into half-time without scoring, they would be nervous in the second half and we would have chances.
“But that goal, with 30 seconds left. It was a killer. It killed us and it was a mistake from my left defender.
“He was not coming back to defend and you could have seen me shouting, about five times to ask him to come back.”
The Belgian however praised his team for their display. “Overall, I was very happy with the way the boys played. They were very organized and kept the Nigerians away. If it was not for the mistake, we would have gone into halftime 0-0.”
A second yellow card to Limbikani Mvaza saw the defender sent off, and made an already difficult task even harder, and Saintfiet says he would have given a straight red.
“When I saw it, I would have given a red myself. But I spoke to the player and he told me he got the ball. I would still have given a red.
“For the penalty, I have to look at it again. But I am 90 per cent sure it was not a penalty.”
Saintfiet was however quick to congratulate the Super Eagles. “They are a very good team, and I want to congratulate the, and wish the, well and I hope we see them at the World Cup.”
