By Daily Sports Nigeria on January 17, 2024

The mood at the Oworo Recreation Centre in Oworonshoki, Lagos State before Nigeria took to the pitch against Equatorial Guinea on Sunday was one of expectations and hope, but after the final whistle at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan, it had turned to one of disappointment.

Residents of Oworonshoki had come out in their numbers to the centre to watch the Eagles opening AFCON 2023 opening game after the Lagos State Government had set up viewing centres for fans across the state.

Those in Miyaki, an area in the vicinity, took a short walk to the centre, while Elanke residents paid N100 as transport fare to get to the centre.

After the game, which ended 1-1, some fans from Elanke regretted paying N100 to the centre to watch the Eagles held by their less-fancied foes.

“I should have stayed at home and kept my transport fare. This match was very annoying, they (Eagles) were not mobile and played like there was nothing at stake. But I think they can still qualify from the group stage if they can just put in more effort and work on their agility,” teenager Ogunbe Oyewole told PUNCH Sports Extra.

Taiwo Abbas, the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development representative at the Oworonshoki Recreation Centre, has given up on the Eagles and wants them to return back to Nigeria.

“They should be coming back to Nigeria after this first game. I don’t think they can make it to the round of 16, they don’t use namse to play football anymore,” he said.

A coach of Smart City football club, Afeez Abiodun, is optimistic the Eagles can still qualify despite facing a herculean task against hosts Ivory Coast on Thursday.

“The Super Eagles were unlucky not to win, they created a lot of chances but chances don’t win you games, goals do. I think if they can work better on their finishing we will beat Ivory Coast on Thursday, they are not better than us.”

Ubong Akpan, a footballer, added, ”I think they need to look to other players for goals sometimes and not just isolate Osimhen, he is not the only one who can score for the Eagles, other players can also score. They just need to work harder for each other.”

Source Punch Ng

Posted January 17, 2024

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