Former Nigerian Super Eagles forward, Emmanuel Amunike has said that the second round loss to Italy at 1994 World Cup was the toughest loss in his career.
Amunike, a key member of the 1994 World Cup squad said the match is a match he can never forget.
‘well I think the match I will never forget, is our match, second round against Italy in Boston. It was played around 1pm and after losing that game, it was a very long night, a lot of reflection on your head about the game, we could not sleep and i think one of the longest night I ever experienced as a player’.
Amunike while answering questions on the NSM rebranded platform just like other 1994 World Cup players said the team lacked tactical input to win the game.
‘Just like Eguaveon and Finidi said, we lacked the tactical input to manage the game, the duty of the coach is to get the team ready but does not guarantee the team will be in the position always’
The former Tanzania national team coach added that the squad despite winning the AFCON the same year lacked experience at the World Cup.
‘as a team, probably we were naive, lacked experience, exposure, the Italian team were usevd to the World Cup and at the end we lost the game in that way’.
The 1994 African Footballer of the year award winner played 27 times for the Super Eagles winning gold at the AFCON 1994 and silver in 2000.
