Confederation Cup Ouster: Ubah says bitter lesson learnt

The President of FC Ifeanyi Ubah of Nnewi, Ifeanyi Ubah, has expressed sadness on the early exit of the Anambra-based side from the CAF Confederation Cup.

The Anambra Warriors lost 2-0 on penalties to the hosts, El-Masry of Egypt on Feb. 19 after conceding one goal in the regulation time to tie on 1-1 aggregate.

Ubah said on Monday that lessons had been learnt and notes taken from the experience.

He decried the unfriendly treatment meted out to his team in Egypt, saying they lost to a side that was not better off.

“I’m sad we are out, but grateful we are alive to face tomorrow, lessons learnt and notes taken. My advice is for all our fans to continue to support us.”

“You need to see the hostile attitude given to your representatives and you will weep for Nigeria.”

“You need to see the way lenses were used against our team this evening without any action taken by officials,’’ he lamented in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

“You need to see the officiating of the match and the penalty awarded to them, and you will weep for us.”

“In all, I want to thank members of my team, including the management, coaching crew, who handled and contained the hostile game and giving them a good fight.”

“We qualified for CAF Confederation Cup through penalty and unfortunately lost through penalty, this is football, lessons learnt and notes taken,” the statement said.

FC Ifeanyi Ubah had on Feb. 12 managed a one goal victory over the Egyptians when they came for the first leg of the preliminary stage in Nnewi.

The statement said that Ubah hailed Rangers International FC of Enugu for qualifying for the next round of the CAF Champions League after playing goalless draw with Algeria’s JS Soaura in Enugu.

The Flying Antelopes had played 1-1 draw with their opponents in Algeria, and progressed in the competition through away goal advantage.