Fans hail gallant Flamingoes

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Ike Shorunmu told the New Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos that the girls showed so much promise but faltered. “It is a pity that after coming so close to the semi-finals, the girls faltered and crashed out of the tournament after showing so much promise. “The girls gave […]

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Ike Shorunmu told the New Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos that the girls showed so much promise but faltered.

“It is a pity that after coming so close to the semi-finals, the girls faltered and crashed out of the tournament after showing so much promise.

“The girls gave their best but it was not good enough to take them to the next level.

“They should, however, be commended for making it to the quarter-finals from the group stage,’’ he said.

A sports analyst and journalist, Deacon Ayo Ositelu, said the girls lacked the stamina to complete what they had started hence their defence collapsed.

“The girls surrendered the lead they had notched up to a more determined Korean side whose persistence gave them a well deserved victory.

“The defence let the team down; the score line was reminiscent of a tennis match; we simply lost to a better side,’’ Ositelu said.

The skipper of the 1985 U-17 world champions, Nduka Ugbade, said he was disappointed with the outcome of the game because the team lost a match they ought to have won.

“We lost a match we should have easily won if we had put our act together; it was unNigerian to throw away the match the way the girls did.

“The team collapsed and lost composure against a determined side who did not give up until they achieved their objective,’’ he said.

Kayode Tijani, a television sports analyst, said the girls showed commitment and patriotism but could go no further because somebody had to lose in a match.

“The team got as far as it could go and bowed out gallantly, somebody has to win and somebody had to lose; unfortunately Nigeria lost the match.