National Teams
Finidi George reveals why Nigeria lost to Benin Republic in Abidjan
By Wale Mustapha
Nigeria’s senior men’s national team head coach, George Finidi, has attributed the team’s 2-1 defeat to Benin Republic on Monday to a loss of concentration.
The Super Eagles failed to maintain their lead, allowing the Squirrels to overturn the result, putting Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in jeopardy.
With only three points from four games, Nigeria remains in fifth position in the Group C table. Despite the setback, Finidi remains hopeful for a positive turnaround in the team’s subsequent games.
“We scored a good goal and after that we lost concentration; they got their equaliser and then they gained momentum,” Finidi said during his post-match interaction with the media.
“We didn’t defend well against the long kick from the goalkeeper, and they got their first goal. We had control of the game, but we didn’t defend well.
“If you don’t take your chances and don’t defend well in a World Cup qualifier, you pay for it. The first half was good, but for the goals we conceded, while in the second half we pushed and defended well.”
Finidi’s comments underscore the need for improved focus and defensive discipline as the team prepares for the crucial upcoming matches.
