Plateau Coach, Fidelis Ilechukwu has apologized following his team's disgraceful loss and ouster in the CAF Confederation Cup group stage playoff on Wednesday, Nigeriasoccernet.com gathered.
Plateau United who had won 4-1 at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja in the first leg crumbled with few minutes to go in the second leg by three goals to nil to go out on away goal rule after a 4-4 aggregate.
The team from Nigeria's Coach has come out to plead with Nigerians who expected the team to hold on the first leg advantage.
He said after the match that Nigerian fans should forgive him as he never imagined the team from Libya could overturn the goal margin.
While speaking after the game, "I want to tell all soccer Nigerians that I'm very sorry as Plateau United couldn't make it to the group stage.
"It was a disappointing game and a sad evening for me and the entire team, as it was one of the low moments of my coaching career.
"I would never have imagined Plateau United not qualifying for the group stage of the Confederation Cup with a 3-0 advantage after the 1st half ended 0-0.
"Having learnt a bitter lesson in the Champions League game against Esperance in Tunis, we came into the game against Al Akhdar full of confidence.
"At a point, we had the game in our hands and almost made history for ourselves but not converting the half chances that came our way, was our biggest challenge.
"Plateau United scoring a goal or two in Benghazi would have broken barriers. I have tried to recall and analyse a few high points of the game but difficult for me to say exactly how Plateau United conceded the third goal in added time.
"Our campaign may have ended abruptly, but I want to reassure Nigerians that the team will bounce back from the ashes of the painful defeat in Benghazi."
Plateau United had crashed out of the CAF Champions League second preliminary round almost in the same fashion in October.
By Uche Dozie