Siasia blames strikers, ref for loss

Flying Eagles coach Samson Siasia turned on his strikers after the team lost their second game on the bounce at the Fifa Under-20 World Cup in Egypt.
The Nigerians were beaten 2-0 by Spain despite, once again, dominating their opponents and Siasia said it was down to his forwards to put away the numerous opportunities the team created.

"I believed we had more chances in the first half but I don't know why our strikers always go to sleep. I don't really know how many chances we need to score a goal.

"It is so sad that we have strikers that can't even score goals. If you don't score goals, you can't win any match," the former Nigeria international lamented.

Siasia's was equally unhappy to see his team concede a soft penalty and another player walk off with a red card for the second consecutive game, especially when a Spanish player got off with only a yellow card for a similar offence as that which got Haruna Lukman sent off in the opening game, and he did not spare the referee.

"I don't know what is going on may be the referees don't want us to go to the next round of the competition. It was obvious that the penalty given to the Spanish team was not a penalty. It is just ridiculous."

Nigeria have a slim chance of advancing as best losers if they beat group whipping boys Tahiti, and results from elsewhere go their way.