Super Eagles manager, Gernot Rohr has blamed his players for the shocking 2-0 loss to South Africa in an African Cup of Nations qualifier on Saturday evening at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.
Second half goals from Tekelo Rantie and Pacy Tau handed Bafana Bafana the coveted three points, and their first win against Nigeria in a competitive match.
The average age of the Super Eagles players named in the starting eleven was 23 and the German believes the South Africans were more experienced than his team, who became nervous after they conceded the first goal.
”We failed to convert our opportunities and when they scored, my young team became nervous and started to make mistakes,” Rohr said in his post match comments.
”It is a sad result, but we win together and we lose together, and when a team gets this kind of result, it looks within and rectifies whatever shortcomings in order to achieve better results subsequently.
”This can only make us stronger.”
Nigeria’s next competitive fixture is a World Cup qualifier against African champions Cameroon in August.
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles have apologized after losing to South Africa on Saturday.
”We are disappointed with the result of Saturday’s game. Our heads are bowed and spirits low because we didn’t make our fans proud or happy,” the Super Eagles said in a statement posted via their official Twitter account on Sunday.
“We’ve resolved to bounce back quickly, learn from this defeat, get better and stronger.
”We take this as a WAKE UP CALL, not a DEATH SENTENCE.”
Nigeria faces a trip to Seychelles in their next AFCON qualifier in March 2018.
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
