Super Eagles, yesterday, lost to Costa Rica in an international friendly played in San Jose.
The game, which took place in the wee hours of yesterday, was one of the Los Ticos’ warm-up matches before the Copa du Mundo. Costa Rica is going to the World Cup.
Before their most recent loss to Costa Rica, the Super Eagles had already lost two games in the United States to Mexico and Ecuador before losing the right to represent Qatar at the 2022 World Cup to Ghana.
Seven minutes into the match, Oscar Duarte gave Los Ticos the lead when he cut past Kayode Bankole in goal after Joel Campbell had given away a free kick on the left.
The Los Ticos’ 18-yard box was invaded by an attack-minded defender named Dominion Ohaka in the 18th minute, but his shot went over the crossbar.
The Nigerian goalkeeper, Bankole, made several excellent saves, but the Eagles forwards were unable to capitalize on the few opportunities that presented themselves. In the 73rd minute, Kendall Waston scored off a pull-out from the left by Campbell, heading the ball over the goalkeeper and a defender.
Ibrahim Shehu Gusau, president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), responded to the Super Eagles’ 2-0 loss by challenging the coaching staff and the players to learn difficult lessons from the defeat and resolve to return to winning ways moving forward.
“Costa Rica are heading to the World Cup and were highly spurred on by their fans, but then we are Nigeria and we should always have it in mind that our people want us to win all the time. I am not saying they did not give a good performance; they should know that winning matters.”
“The new NFF board will be concerned with players that wear our green-and-white going out for wins, whether they play in competitive and friendly matches. It is not enough to try or to make an effort; winning mentality is key. They tried their best in the game but they should learn from this and know that next time, they have to go all out to win or avoid defeat.”
On November 18, just two days before the World Cup in Qatar gets underway, the Super Eagles have another arranged friendly match against Portugal.
