I am happy that we qualified-Keshi

Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi has
blamed the 0-2 loss in the second leg
qualifier for Africa Nations Cup
Championship (CHAN) to lack of
composure of the players. In spite of the
loss, Super Eagles however qualified on
4-3 goals aggregate.

The team had gone into the second leg
match with a 4-1 advantage, having
outclassed the Elephants of Cote d'Ivoire
on June 6 in Kaduna. Keshi said in Abidjan
shortly after the match that the game,
though an interesting one, took Eagles
about 25 minutes to get composure. " I
must say that it was a good game.

We played an Ivorian side that is quite
good, my team was a little jittery at the
beginning.'' An elated Keshi added that
CHAN would provide good exposure for
the team: "I am sure that my team will
garner more experience by the time they
play in South Africa.''

The Ivorian Coach, Saraka Nobert, said at
the post-match news conference that his
team did well. "It was not a bad play at all,
we tried so hard to get a third goal but the
chances were not there, I think my team
did not play badly.'' Zougoula Ahmed
scored the two goals in the sixth minute
before converting a penalty in 26th minute
of the match played at the Robert
Champoux Stadium, Macory, Abidjan.

The home-based Eagles will be playing in
the championship for the first time since
the start of the competition in 2009.

The
3rd edition of CHAN was originally
scheduled for Libya but will now hold in
South Africa.

The three un-replied goals would have
robbed the Eagles of the opportunity to
play in the tournament. Mike Umeh, Vice
President of the Nigeria Football
Association (NFA) said that he was
impressed with the result. "It means we are
going to South Africa. It will be a good
exposure for our team. The result of this
match is a good one for us.'
Related NewsForget First Leg Victory - Keshi Asks Eagles

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