Samuel Kalu has said the 2-0 loss to lowly-ranked Madagascar is a wake-up call for the Super Eagles, just as Leon Balogun admitted he was to blame for the opening goal against Nigeria.
The Eagles finished second in the AFCON Group B with six points from three matches after they were shocked by the islanders, who are making only their debut at the AFCON finals.
“This was a wake-up call for us,” said Bordeaux winger Kalu.
“But this is football and anything can happen.”
Defender Leon Balogun said his individual mistake led to the opening goal.
“There was the individual mistake by me and then we were unlucky to concede a second goal,” he lamented.
“It was a bad day for us because even when we stepped up in the second half, we got nothing.”
After the stumble against Barea of Madagascar on Sunday, the Eagles are now more likely to face perennial arch-rivals Black Stars of Ghana in the Round of 16 on Saturday in Alexandria.
