We’ve put WAFU Cup loss behind us – Ike Shorunmu

Posted by admin Headlines, Soccer, Sports Sunday, May 15th, 2011

In spite of losing the prestigious West Africa Football Union (WAFU) trophy to Togo in the final on Saturday, Super Eagles’ Assistant Coach, Ike Shorunmu, believes that the future of the players who represented Nigeria in the competition is still ahead of them.

The nation’s former number one goalkeeper said the players would not allow the WAFU Cup loss to distract them from other subsequent matches as their minds are already focussed on the friendly international against Argentina.
Shorunmu, speaking shortly after Eagles bowed 3-2 to Togo at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta, appealed to Nigerians not to judge the players with the outcome of the WAFU championship, but still have faith in the team because the squad is on building process.

“The match didn’t go as we planned but we tried our best to maintain the confidence reposed in us by Nigerians, unfortunately, it ended that way.“The Togolese were better. They deserved to win. They really prepared for this championship. Shorunmu also blamed the Eagles’ goalkeeper for losing concentration in the final.
He said the WAFU Cup event served as a trial for the selected local league players and most of them proved their mettle in the championship.

He, however, re-affirmed Eagles technical crew plans to continue to test as many players as possible to build the national team for the future.“Every country builds her national team around local players and occasionally brings in a few professional players for major championships. That is the type of national team we want to build for Nigeria.

“There is nothing like home-based players. All the players are for Super Eagles. We once played in our local league before going abroad, so we want to give the players the same opportunity to prove their worth,” he said.

-Sunwp_posts