Aiteo cup: Referee killed Sunshine Stars —Duke Udi

Sunshine Stars coach Duke Udi has alleged his team were frustrated out of this year’s Aiteo Cup by the referee after they lost 3-1 to hosts Akwa United in a semi-final return leg match.

Akwa United progressed 3-2 on aggregate to Sunday’s Aiteo Cup final on the back of the win in Uyo on Sunday after they lost the first leg 1-0in Ijebu-ode.

“It’s frustrating, how can we get the best to represent this country in international competitions with this kind of officiating”, Udi fumed, furiously, after the Akure Gunners fell 3-1 to Akwa United in Uyo.

“You saw it, my players were never given freedom of expression. All their moves were cut off with unnecessary calls.

“It is sad and can never help the development of football in this country.”

Udi said he will still praise his team despite this cup exit.

“My players did well, they impressed me and I’m proud of their performance,” he told SCORENigeria.

“It was only sad that we could not progress to the final and that is the irony of it.

“If we had had a level playing field, we could have won but that is football for us.”