CHAN Eagles couldn’t have won in Lome ―Imama

Super Eagles Head Coach Imama Amapakabo says his players were rusty ahead of Sunday’s 4-1 loss to Togo in a African Nations Championship qualifier.

Togo’s Nane Richard cancelled out Ibrahim Sunusi’s opener before the half-time break and the Sparrowhawks came out fighting in the second half.

Three goals inside 25 minutes, including another from Richard, stunned the Nigerian side as the hosts built an unassailable lead in the first-leg second round match.

Nigeria’s hopes of reaching the CHAN tournament, exclusive to players based in their Country, hangs in the balance, and Imama has suggested he would take the fall should the NFF move to replace him before the second-leg next month.

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“I take absolute responsibility for the outcome,” the Coach told Brila FM’s Area Lunch Sport.

The NPFL, where all the players were selected from has been in the off-season for over 100 days, and though match rustiness could have been a factor on Sunday, Imama says “I don’t want to make excuses for failure”.

He however admits he could lose his job, but insists pre-game expectations of an Eagles win was unrealistic and it would have been “magic”.

“Nigerians don’t understand, there’s a process to success, people want us to beat Togo 20-0 but football is not magic.”