Eagles didn’t take their chances- Erico

Super Eagles crashed out of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations after they were held to a 2-2 draw by Guinea at the Abuja National Stadium. Speaking to Feverpitch after the match, the former international goalkeeper blamed the strikers for the team’s dismal outing as he said they failed to convert begging chances. He said […]

Super Eagles crashed out of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations after they were held to a 2-2 draw by Guinea at the Abuja National Stadium.

Speaking to Feverpitch after the match, the former international goalkeeper blamed the strikers for the team’s dismal outing as he said they failed to convert begging chances.

He said the players did their best but because they could not score the required goals, it made nonsense of all the effort that they put into the match.

Erico noted that even before the match, the players were weighed down psychologically because the time for the encounter did not favour most of the players who ply their trade in Europe where the weather conditions are more temperate.

He however said the timing of the match did not affect the Eagles only as even their opponents were not spared the scorching heat that saw all the players gasping for breath after every move.

Erico said the timing of the match did a lot to reduce the quality of the match just as he wondered why CAF took that decision considering the fact that most players on the continent now play in Europe under very cold weather conditions.

He said: “There was no way for the Super Eagles to beat their opponents. You win by scoring goals and once you fail to score, there is no way you can win a match. That was what happened to the team. Eagles did not take their chances.

“They created dozens of chances but failed to convert them into goals. They made incursions but they failed to score. This is an unfortunate development.

“The time for the match too was faulty. Even before the match the players from both sides were weighed down psychologically because they knew what awaited them”.

Erico said the failure of Eagles to qualify for Gabon/Equatorial Guinea is very painful but it would make the nation appreciate victories in future.

“It is a sad moment but it would make us appreciate victory in future. Sometimes when we win, we take such victories for granted. But this is a sad moment”, he stated.