'Not easy to play against players with EPL, Serie A experience' - CPV boss on loss to Nigeria

Published: November 17, 2021

Cape Verde national football team coach Bubista was proud of his players despite their failure to progress to the next round of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

The Blue Sharks finished with eleven points, two less than pacesetters Nigeria who were leading Group C from the opening match day right to the end.

In a game not for the faint-hearted at the Teslim Balogun Stadium on Tuesday evening, Victor Osimhen gave the Super Eagles a lead inside one minute but the visitors equalised through Ianique dos Santos Tavares five minutes later.

Of the fifteen players that tasted action for the Super Eagles against the Islanders, seven in the shape of Odion Ighalo, William Troost-Ekong, Leon Balogun, Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Frank Onyeka and Kelechi Iheanacho have English Premier League experience, and an eighth player in Victor Osimhen plays for a top club in the Serie A.

Bubista was delighted that his side were able to match the physical Nigerian players, some of whom have played for clubs in the top five European Leagues.

"The game was very divided. Obviously, Nigeria took the dispute to the physical part, exploiting many long balls and forcing our central defenders to have to make a huge effort in terms of direct play," Bubista was quoted as saying by
Radiotelevisão Caboverdiana.

"But I think our defenders did well, it's not easy to play against players with experience from the Premier League [England] or the Italian league. They are fast and strong.

"But, I think Cape Verde was never inferior, our players had determination from start to finish, it was a pity we didn't manage to score".

Nigeria finished the group stage with a one hundred percent away record, winning their three matches and scoring six goals while conceding one.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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