Flying Eagles head coach Abdu Maikaba has identified defensive mistakes as a key area his team must improve ahead of Wednesday’s WAFU B U20 Tournament semi-final clash against hosts Ivory Coast.
Nigeria booked a place in the last four of the competition but the team’s defensive record has raised concerns after conceding four goals in two matches while keeping just one clean sheet.
Speaking during his pre-match press conference ahead of the semi-final encounter on Tuesday, Maikaba admitted that the team was not satisfied with the defensive lapses that allowed opponents to score similar goals in their previous match.
When asked about the positives he has seen from his team and the areas they need to improve against Ivory Coast, Maikaba said the Flying Eagles must work on their defensive approach.
“We need to improve on our defensive approach to the game, most especially in our last game we conceded two goals from similar situations, and we are not happy about that,” Maikaba told reporters at the pre-match press conference.
The coach explained that the players have been trained on how to deal with such situations, but concentration lapses during matches have sometimes led to costly mistakes.
“We have taught the players on how to defend such balls. Sometimes during the course of the game they do forget and make little mistakes which will cost us the game,” he added.
Maikaba stressed that the team would focus on correcting those errors before facing Ivory Coast in the semi-final, while demanding maximum concentration from his players throughout the encounter.
“We will make sure that we address them very well and make sure they concentrate all through the game, and not make such silly mistakes in the semifinal stage,” he stated.
The Flying Eagles will now look to improve defensively as they aim to secure a place in the final of the WAFU B U20 tournament on Wednesday.
With the hosts standing in their way, Maikaba’s side will need to avoid the defensive lapses that have affected their previous performances and deliver a more disciplined display in the crucial semi-final fixture.
Wale Adejumo
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