Emordi unfazed over Eagles, Leone Stars AFCON draw

Former Super Eagles assistant coach, Okey Emordi has said he was not surprised at the outcome of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying clash between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone.

The Eagles were forced to a 4-4 by the West African foes in Friday’s AFCON clash decided at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City. The Nigerians led with four unreplied goals before the visitors staged a stunning comeback to end the curial tie at four goals apiece.

Both sides will continue the AFCON qualifying supremacy combat on Tuesday, November 17 at the Siaka Steven Stadium in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Emordi said the country must learn to imbibe the reality that no nation in the world today will want to be treated as inferior or lesser in the round leather game.

“I’m not disappointed or shocked by the result, it could have been worst losing the whole points in that game.

“The worst may still be in the future that we cannot believe it except we learn from the event of today.

“Every day is a day of learning, every minute, every hour is a day of learning.

“I believe the coach by now would have learnt a lot, at least, not the way it was in the past or how things were in the past.

“Honestly, every country is growing not only in terms of sports but in everything, no country wants to be behind, every country wants to be known, seen and wants to be on top and that’s exactly what is happening now.

“Yes, in the past we proud ourselves as the giant of Africa, we believe we can conquer Africans but it’s not so any more.

“Right now there is no half measure to success than you making sure that your team train together and understand themselves and if you succeed you take the glory if not you start afresh,” said the former Enyimba gaffer.

Emordi averred that the reverse fixture clash in Freetown will be tougher than the clash in Benin City but insisted that the Eagles are capable of winning the encounter.

“Yes because we have known our mistakes, if we underrated them previously then everybody will sit up right now and that’s when the real business will come.

“The Sierra Leoneans themselves will aspire to keep a clean record, a clean sheet not minding what had happened.

“Now their morale is high and ours is still down. Of course, there will be tension on us but then the opponents will play more relaxed football and I hope we will be more circumspect not to be too anxious to get the goals by leaving our defence open.

“We must be serious and we have to be more precise in our game, everybody must sit up and work together and God on our side we shall prevail against the Sierra Leoneans in Freetown,” said the former Kano Pillars tactician.

The Eagles still retain the summit position of Group L on seven points after three matches.