Football enthusiasts in Enugu on Friday called for calm, as the Jose Peseiro-tutored Super Eagles early Friday morning in New Jersey, U.S.A., lost their second international friendly match 0-1 to Ecuador.
The defeat was coming barely one week after Mexico handed down a 2-1 defeat to the Super Eagles in Dallas, U.S.A. in their first international friendly encounter.
Peseiro was signed on by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on May 15 to replace the sacked technical crew, headed by ex-Nigerian international, Austin Eguavoen.
In separate interviews, the fans said that the team should not be judged by two matches.
They argued that the team was still undergoing a rebuilding process.
Coach Anistar Izuikem of Star Plus FC, Ngwo, Enugu State, said that the results of the matches were not bad.
Izuikem, however, advised the team’s technical crew to improve on its scoring ability.
“Defeat is part of football. The team just got a new technical crew and head coach.
“Football is not a magic. The players need time to adapt to a new philosophy.
“This is a rebuilding process, so, let us lower our expectations from these friendlies and allow them to blend and adapt to the new philosophy.”
Ignatius Okpara, former Secretary, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Enugu, said that he was not worried by the results of the two friendlies.
“Well, it was not surprising to me, going by what the team has faced in recent times, regarding its handler.
“Since Eguavon was fired, the team has somehow been operating like sheep without shepherd.
“What I’m trying to say is that the absence of a Technical Adviser before now really affected the national team, there are no two ways about that.
“I believe the team will get better with time, when they get used to the new coach’s tactics and game pattern.”
Also, a former SWAN chairman and current Rangers International Media Officer, Norbert Okolie, expressed confidence in the team’s technically crew to deliver the goods when it matters the most.
“This is a friendly match in which the coach needed to test his players and come up with the best tactics for the team.
“Mexico and Ecuador are not pushovers in the world of football.
“I believe that the team’s handler will go back to the drawing board to correct the lapses that showed during the two encounters,” Norbert said. (NAN)
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