Lagos- Cote d’IVoire Beach Football team on Saturday defeated hard fighting Nigeria’s Sand Eagles, 5-4 in their first ever loss in the ongoing 2014 Copa Lagos competition.
Cote d’ivore wasted no time in showing their determination to beat three times champions as they recorded an early lead at 4-1 at the close of the second period.
A more determined Eagle came fighting back in the third and final period scoring a brace through Olawale Isiaka and another through Najere Isiaka.
However, Assouan Kablan strike ensured the visitors maintained their lead at 5-4 and kept the defending champions from scoring till the end of regulated time.
Coach Audu Adamu of the Sand Eagles team told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in the sidelines of the match that loss of concentration had caused their defeat.
“We lost the match due to loss of concentration, we tried to fight back but Cote d’Ivoire was too solid at the defence for us to break.
“Having won the competition in the last three editions, we have no reason to be sad but go back to the drawing board and prepare better next time,’’ Adamu said.
Meanwhile, speaking through an interpreter, Coach Soro Jean of the Cote d’Ivoire team said that his team was well prepared for the competition and were happy to beat Nigeria.
“We worked very hard and achieved a great result, it is our first time in Copa Lagos and we hope to do well in our next match and hopefully emerge as champions,’’ he said. (NAN)
