Sports

Siasia: I’ve no team for 2016 Olympics

Published

9 years ago

September 16, 2015

In from Nifemi Daniel …

U-23 Eagles coach, Samson Siasia has stated that he does not have a team that can qualify for the 2016 Olympics after the team where humbled 3-1 by Burkina Faso in the semifinals of the 11th All-Africa Games football tournament in Congo on Tuesday.

A disappointed Siasia added that the team must work harder to qualify after being drawn against Egypt, Algeria and Mali in Group B of the 2016 Olympics qualifying tournament billed for November in Senegal.

Siasia said: “I never imagined losing to Burkina Faso, but then my midfielders played so well, my defenders and attackers let me down, can you imagine my attackers not being able to convert about eight chances that came their way?

“To make matters worse, the defenders were asleep on a day they should have been up and doing. Who told the central defenders to keep offside trap the way they did? I am totally disappointed; we can’t play like this in Senegal and expect to qualify for the 2016 Olympics. No way!

“We were so bad that anytime the ball beat the defenders, even my goalkeeper could not stop any of the shots fired at him. Football is a team work where errors are bound to occur, but it’s the ability of fellow team mates to cover for one another that makes a team great, that I didn’t see today.”

On the way forward, Siasia stated that he is happy that the worst has happened at the All-Africa Games and he has learnt his mistakes.

“We will make corrections after the All-Africa Games. I plan to travel to talk to some players I have already penciled down, then hopefully, the team should be assembling in first week of October to prepare for the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations. Certainly, some of the players I brought to Congo Brazzaville will have to give way.”

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