Coach of Plateau United, Fidelis Ilechukwu has expressed how deeply sorry he is after the ouster of the Jos based club from the CAF Confederation’s Cup.
Plateau couldn’t leave up to expectations as they were sent packing following thier giving away of 4:1 first leg win against Al Ahkdar of Libya.
After a jolly ride of thier first leg, together with a ray of hope in the first half of the second leg, Plateau United started giving away the game in the 57th minute when they conceded thier first goal. Situations became worse in the 85th minute as the host double thier lead.
Al Ahkdar put the final nail in the coffin in the 94th minute with a goal to seal a perfect comeback. Ilechukwu lamented the inability of his side to protect a three goal advantage and as well say they are sorry.
“It’s a very painful loss. Having a three goal advantage, playing a 0:0 in the first half of the second leg. You know what that means. The most important thing in football is goals”.
Along with taking responsibility for the defeat in Libya, Ilechukwu put a share of the bad performance on the doorsteps of the strikers. “If a striker can be in the eighteen yard box in an away game in about seven to eight times and cannot score a goal, definitely it’s going to be a very tough one.
“I know Nigerians are not happy. It’s so painful and very sad. It’s something very difficult to explain. Plateau United is out of the CAF Confederation’s Cup. We are sorry”.
Four Nigerian teams made the way to the continental level but Rivers United were only strong enough to keep thier heads above waters in the CAF second tier competition leaving the rest crashing out in the preliminary stages.
