14th October, 2013
Nigeria’s Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, on Sunday in Addis Ababa attributed his team’s 2-1 victory over Ethiopia’s Walya Antelopes to the support it enjoys from Nigerians.
Keshi also said the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) deserves a pat on the back for its commitment to the development of the game in Nigeria since he took over as coach late 2011.
He expressed happiness that Nigerians have always believed in his team, pointing out that the results were beginning to show.
“I dedicate today’s victory to Nigerians and my team too, because they know what was at stake and went for it.
“It was a tough game because the Ethiopians are really good football players and they are athletic too, but I am glad we won because it makes the second leg a lot easier,” Keshi said.
The Eagles won the first leg match played at the Addis Ababa National Stadium in the 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Play-Off.
Commenting on the goal the Ethiopians claimed the referee denied them, Keshi said the referee made his decision, adding that he thought the ball had not crossed the line.
Geoffrey Oboabona had cleared the ball off the line.
Keshi said the Ethiopians agitated for what they did not deserve.
“We have seen from television footages that the ball didn’t cross the goalline as is being agitated for,’’ he said.
The former Super Eagles captain however said the match was a good game and praised the resilience of the Ethiopians.
“I think they looked deadly and had a lot of pace on the ball, but experience and quality gave us the day,” he added.
The Walya Antelopes’ Head Coach, Sewnet Bishaw, had protested the timely clearance by Godfrey Oboabona which denied his team a goal in the first half of the game.