CHAN: Why Nigeria were battered by Morocco ―Salisu

 

Nigeria coach Salisu Yusuf reflected on his side’s 0-4 defeat to Morocco in the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) final at the Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca last Sunday.

A brace from Zakaria Hadraf and a goal each from Walid El Karti and Ayoub El Kaabi was all the Atlas Lions needed to win their first major continental title since the 1976 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

“We lost today because we had to manage due to many injuries, Morocco played well,” Salisu told the media.

The home-based Super Eagles were without some of their key players, Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Sunday Faleye.

Peter Eneji, who was making his first appearance in the tournament, was sent off after the Nigeria attacker received his second yellow card.

“They created chances and scored, it could have been better if we had all our players available. The game became more difficult with the red card,” he added.

Salisu decided to bench their star striker Anthony Okpotu and he was replaced by Eneji on the Super Eagles starting line-up.

“It was a strategy to introduce Okpotu from the bench, Eneji did well. We wanted to win but Morocco got it,” he explained.

Meanwhile, the home-based Super Eagles have admitted they were outclassed by Morocco on Sunday so deserved victory.

“Morocco deserved their victory,” midfielder Dayo Ojo told SCORENigeria

“They were better than us in all the departments, they created so many chances and they converted four of them.

“It was a disappointing loss, but we have accepted the defeat in good faith.”

He said Eneji’s dismissal early in the second half was the turning point of the game.

“The red card to Eneji worsened our situation as we now had to play one man down and so they opened up our defence.”

Enyimba striker Ibrahim Mustapha said the Eagles could not match the Atlas Lions.

”We did all we could before the match and it was not just our day as we struggle to contend with the physicality and size of the Moroccans,” he lamented.

“But we should not be ashamed because there were 16 teams in this tournament and we finished second when our previous best was finishing third.

“I believe it won’t be long before we win this competition.”