the side got their tactics wrong against their
South African opponents, Bafana Bafana.
The Eagles were benched 2-0 by visitors, Bafana
Bafana in Saturday’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations
(Afcon) qualifying at the Godswill Akpabio
International Stadium in Uyo.
Akpeyi said the three-time African champions
were on the right peddle in the first half of the
clash but got things muddled up in their quest
for the lead and later for the equaliser.
“We got it wrong tactically, we were doing well
in the first half and in the second half we were
anxious for goal, that’s where we lost it.
“As a result of which we conceded a goal and
eager for the equaliser we opened our defence
and the South Africans cut us off guard coupled
with one or two mistakes to score the second
goal.
“It was one of the bad days in football having to
start our Afcon ticket chase on a losing note.
“Well there is a whole lot of lesson we have
learned from the loss which will guide us in
subsequent matches.
“I believe we still have hope in the qualifying
race with the other matches on the Afcon
calendar.
“I know for certain that we will get back on track
to position ourselves towards claiming the sole
ticket in the group,” said the Chippa United shot
stopper to supersport.com.
Akpeyi however asked Nigerians to avoid hasty
and roundly condemnation of the players for the
Afcon loss to South Africa.
“None of us is happy with the sad turn of event,
we never went into the game with a mind to lose
to South Africa.
“Nigerians are too quick to condemn and pass
judgment, a little error everybody is quick to
throw stone.
“We have won several matches in the past
whether by luck or not and the encomium is
understandably endless.
“If we continued to be sentimental in our
discourse especially when things went wrong
things will not work well.
“We need to encourage, standby and support the
team at all times, we just lost a game, not war,
as we are determined to pick the Afcon
qualification ticket to Cameroon,” said the former
Heartland and Warri Wolves goaltender.
Nigeria are third on the group E log with zero
points, while Libya and South Africa are on three
points and the Seychelles remain bottom. Only
the group winners are guaranteed an automatic
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