We were jittery, Keshi admits

Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi has
described Nigeria's 2-0 loss to the
Elephants of Cote D' Ivoire in the second
leg of the final round of the CHAN
qualifier as a good experience for the
national team.
"We thank God we qualified at the end of
the day but my boys did not pick up till
the second half and I must say to you
that I am happy and this is a great
experience for a young side like the home
based side".
The former Stade D Abidjan libero
admitted that his players were jittery at
the start of the match which led to them
conceding two quick goals in the first half
but they woke up and gave a good
account of themselves in the second.
RESILIENCE: Super Eagles Oladapo
Olufemi (C) vies for the ball with Ivory
Coast's players during the 2014 African
Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifying
match on July 27, 2013 at the Robert-
Champroux Stadium in Abidjan. Ivory
Coast defeated Nigeria 2 – 0. Nigeria
qualify on 4-3 aggregate. PHOTO AFP
"If you say it was a game of two halves I
may tend to agree with you because we
started poorly largely due to inexperience
and then when we came into the game
they struggled against us. But that is
football, we are just grateful to God, the
NFF and Nigerians that we made it for the
first time to the CHAN tournament".
Ivorian Coach, Saraka Norbert, who also
spoke at the post match conference
admitted that the Nigerian side were
slightly more experienced than his side,
even as he refused to blame the two red
cards the team received in the first leg in
Kaduna for his side's ouster.
"Nigeria is a great country economically,
socially and even in football and we must
admit that when we get to their heights
in the near future, Ivorian football will be
great again", he said.