Post-Match : Nigeria U20 Coach On Not Starting Dele-Bashiru, Penalty Claim, Pre-tournament Target

Published: June 03, 2019

Nigeria U20 coach Paul Aigbogun faced the cameras shortly after his team crashed out of the 2019 FIFA U20 World Cup following their 2-1 loss to Senegal in a West African derby at the Lodz Stadium.

The Flying Eagles coach, who was visibly upset by the loss to the Senegalese, explained why Manchester City's Tom Dele-Bashiru was not named in the starting line-up in the last two games and has had his say on the penalty incident in the first half.

Aigbogun suggested that the Flying Eagles achieved their pre-tournament target of reaching the last 16 of the World Cup.

''Obviously I’m disappointed but also proud of the play. Speaking about Dele-Bashiru, It was team decision and we decided he will come in the second half. He was ready to play,'' Aigbogun told reporters, including allnigeriasoccer.com, at the post-match press conference.

''I didn’t see the incident with the penalty. We put a lot of pressure on Senegal in the second half. It’s football. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.

''We wanted to go further. Last 16 was the first target. I think we showed one or two players who had ability and it’s most important.''

The Flying Eagles have qualified for the last eight of the FIFA U20 World Cup in six previous tournaments with the last coming in 2011.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : fifa.com