Super Eagles defender and captain, Kenneth Omeruo, has given reasons why the team lost to Mali in their second international friendly match played on Tuesday night in Marrakech.
Goals by El Bilal Touré, and Kamouri Doumbia in the 18th and 87th minutes respectively gave the Malian Eagles a 2-0 win over their Nigerian counterparts.
In the second match of caretaker coach, Finidi George, the Super Eagles lost 2-0 to a resurgent Malian side that crashed out in the quarter finals of the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire to the hosts and eventual winners.
Last week Friday, the Eagles recorded a 2-1 victory over the Black Stars of Ghana at the same venue.
Speaking on the Mali defeat, Omeruo said, “We went into the match against Mali determined to win, just as we did against Ghana. In the end, they took their chances and we failed to take ours. That’s football. You just have to take the chances that come your way.
“June is only a few weeks away. We are focused on the matches against South Africa and Benin Republic. Many players in the group have not played at the World Cup before and they see this as the big opportunity to be there. We cannot afford to let ourselves and the nation down.”
The Super Eagles defender assured fans that the team is fully focused on achieving maximum points when the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers resume in June.
Nigeria will play South Africa in Uyo, and then Benin Republic away from home in June during the resumption of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.
