Former international, Friday Elahor, has expressed disappointment over the Super Eagles’ goalkeeping recurring setback and their work rate during their international friendly match against Algeria’s Foxes on Tuesday.
Nigeria suffered a 1-2 loss to Algeria in the second game of two friendlies played at the Miloud Hadefi Olympic Complex. The first game against the host’s team B had ended 2-2 at the Mohamed Hamlaoui Stadium, Constantine, last week.
Speaking to The Guardian, yesterday, Elahor said he would not blame the Eagles’ new Head Coach, Jose Peseiro, for the team’s dismal outing, adding that he understands the coach was still trying to know the players before he settles for the ones he would eventually use.
“I only watched the Eagles versus Foxes match for about 60 minutes before I stopped because I was not impressed. I had expected some coordination from Eagles’ team, which was lacking because they allowed the Algerians to dominate possession.
“I know the coach is a new man and should be given time to see what he can do with the players available to him for selection in subsequent games.
“But I do not think we should be losing to Algeria in a friendly match. Algeria is a country that should not be beating us and I think yesterday (Tuesday) was a bad day for the Eagles.
“Though some people said the referee robbed us, I do not think so. We should not even go there at all because every time we lose, we keep giving excuses to justify the loss,” he said.
The former Eagles’ winger advised the coaching crew to work on the goalkeeping area to avoid further embarrassments to the country.
“I know Ike Shorunmu to be a very good goalkeeper during his time. Now, that he is the goalkeeper’s trainer, I expect him to look beyond the two goalkeepers we have kept faith with by trying others too.
“Shorunmu should start looking inward and go outside the country in search of new good goalkeepers that we are confident will help us. We are tired of these ones that will always break our hearts.
“If he cannot get us, good goalkeepers, then it means there is a problem. Shorunmu must do something to get us out of this same old problem,” he stated