Flying Eagles coach Aliyu Zubairu has admitted that letting in two early goals did his team in against Argentina in a 2025 U20 World Cup Round of 16 clash.
Argentina raced into a two-goal lead after just 23 minutes on their way to a 4-0 spanking of Nigeria in Santiago Wednesday night.
“I think the early goal is part of what destablised us,” Zubairu explained.
“We conceded very early and even the second goal came not too far from the first.
“That brought destabilisation in our approach.”
He also said his team did not fight quick enough to win the ball when they lost it.
“The level of our fight off the ball was not enough,” he lamented.
“That’s what gave the Argentines a lot of opportunity and space to operate.
“Anytime we lost the ball, we weren’t fighting back quickly,”
He took responsibility for the defeat.
“It’s football. I am part of it. I take the blame and the responsibility,” he said.
“The day they win, they win, and as they lost today, I take responsibility.”
