Kenneth Omeruo On Why Eagles Lost: Argentina Blocked Victor Moses Wing

Published: June 28, 2018

Kenneth Omeruo has commented on Nigeria's exit from the 2018 World Cup, saying that Argentina managed to win Tuesday's game in St. Petersburg because they made Victor Moses ineffective.

Nigeria were four minutes away from qualifying for the knockout stages, with a Victor Moses penalty cancelling out Messi's opener but Manchester United's Marcos Rojo volleyed home the winner.

''I felt bad, the team came from a situation losing the first game, the second game we fought well and won the game,'' Omeruo explained to TVC Nigeria.

''We knew we needed that last game to seal it up, the support we got after winning the second game was amazing.

''We really wanted to do it especially for our families and for Nigerians but we were unlucky.''

The central defender added : ''They were attacking a lot, they blocked our wing, they knew we were better from the Victor Moses wing because he is one of our best players, they knew this.

''They pressed on us, we defended well until the last four minutes.''

Nigeria Football Federation supremo Amaju Pinnick has apologized to Nigerians and says the Super Eagles will start preparations for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

''I think it's the best way forward, we wanted to give everything, we wanted more.

''He has always told us we will go far to the final, the only thing is to apologize, we have to work hard for the next tournament, which is the Nations Cup and then the World Cup,'' added Omeruo.

On Rojo's game-winner, Omeruo said : ''It's not over until it's over, everyone was fighting, everyone was hoping, we wanted to fight till the end.

''They didn't work for that goal, the ones they worked for, we defended them. They were lucky with the win and we have to accept that and go forward.''

Omeruo, 24, now has six World Cup games under his belt after featuring in matches against Iceland and Argentina in the ongoing tournament.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : chelseafc.com