As reactions continue trailing the home-based Eagles’ 1-0 loss to Senegal at the ongoing Championship of African Nations (CHAN 2024), a member of the 2014 bronze winning squad, Solomon Kwambe has inferred that it was simply because the Nigerian players were not purposeful in Tuesday’s match.
Sports247 reports that, while Kwambe refused to blame the team’s coach, Eric Chelle for Tuesday’s setback, the 31-year-old defender, who returned to Lobi Stars of Makurdi in 2022, after spending a year at Tulsa of USA, stressed that the CHAN Eagles’ players have to push for goals in their next game.
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The soft-spoken veteran, who previously played for Plateau United of Jos, Sunshine Stars of Akure and Warri Wolves of Delta State, pointed out that Senegal, who are the defending champions, showed stronger desire for victory.
He opined: “The performance wasn’t up to expectation. During the game, I saw that they were playing more of ball possession than being purposeful.
“I knew that it was going to be difficult, because Senegal were making more attempts than us and, at the end of the day, they won the game.”
Kwambe, who initially featured for Lobi Stars from 2016 to 2020, before travelling to the USA for a year at Tulsa FC, admonished the CHAN Eagles to step up their efforts during this Tuesday’s second group game versus Sudan in order to justify the tactical instructions they receive from their coach.
He affirmed, “Our boys must wake up. Once the coach gives instructions, to go and implement it on the field is very simple.
“So, they must have played according to what the coach asked them to do. That we didn’t get the result doesn’t mean he’s not effective in the team.”
Kwambe, who had a total of 15 national caps in the CHAN Eagles and main Super Eagles combined, concluded with a view that Chelle should not be castigated for the inability of his players to defeat Senegal.
“He has been doing his best, and I believe he’s trying 100%.b It’s what the coach teaches that they have to do better on the field of play,” Kwambe reiterated.
