ABUJA – Football fans on Saturday commended the Super Eagles for their 1-0 victory over their Zimbabwean counterparts in the third place match of the African Nations Championship (CHAN).
Some of them who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said the Eagles did well to clinch the bronze trophy after 1-4 semi-final loss to Ghana on Wednesday.
Chinonso Obiozor’s 82nd minute goal was the decider for the two sides and gave the Nigerian side the victory.
Victor Orji, the President of the Federation of Public Service Games Association (FEPSGA), said the team’s performance showed the normal Eagles’ fighting spirit.
“Although, the game saw only a goal, the players’ performance today showed the normal Super Eagles’ spirit.
“It was a compact game and they deserved the victory because it shows that we are growing.
“It is not all about winning with a wide margin’’, Orji said.
The FEPSGA boss said the Super Eagles could be rated above average.
“Although our league is not rated as one of the best, the boys proved that a Nigerian team can up its game anywhere.
“They were coordinated and disciplined throughout the tournament’’, Orji said.
Erasmus Onuh, former coach of ABS Football Club of Ilorin, said the players displayed resilience in spite of the fact that they did not qualify for the final.
“Although everyone was out for them to reach the final which they didn’t, the team did not allow the last defeat to Ghana to weigh them down with what they played today.
“That shows how good the team and the technical crew are and they have done well to give us at least a bronze in their first appearance at CHAN’’, Onuh said.
A civil servant, Jeremiah Okah, said the player’s performance gave hope to the Nigerian league which have over the years lacked commanding respect among fans.
“Their performance in this competition has given our league exposure because people will now be interested in Nigerian leagues.
“People will want to be part of the league that can produce the calibre of the players that represented Nigeria in the competition.
“So, it is a good one for us in terms of appearance and for our league development’’, he said.
NAN reports that Nigeria made its first appearance at the continental championship which is in its third edition.
The tournament, which kicked off on Jan. 11, ends on Feb.1 with the final match between Ghana and Libya. (NAN)
