Kogi United Head Coach, Tunde Abdulrahman is delighted with his side’s goalless draw with Nasarawa United in their 2018 Aiteo Cup group stage clash in Aba on Monday.
Kogi United, who are grouped with defending champions, Akwa United, Wikki Tourists and Nasarawa could have secured the full match points but Olushola Ajala missed a 72nd-minute penalty after Nasarawa’s Emmanuel Makama upended John Jerome in the box.
Abdulrahman said his team were unlucky not to seal the game considering the chances they created, adding that fatigue also affected the Confluence Boys, who arrived in Aba a few hours to the match.
The former Kwara United coach, however, was confident in his team’s chances of qualifying from the group.“I’m happy with the result, and the boys really played to instruction. I think we gave Nasarawa a good fight.
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“We were not just lucky as the god of soccer wasn’t on our side today… we could have scored two to three goals today.“We did not allow the way we came into the match affect us because I told the boys that if we could get this far and set a quarterfinal target, this is the time. I like their fighting spirit which really gives us hope going forward.”
On the race for the quarterfinals, he said: “I think we stand a chance to progress… you know we are the underdogs of the group, so we are not under pressure. “We know Akwa United are a very tactical side, they play good football and Wikki Tourists are a very strong side, but we will take each game as they come.”
Kogi United’s next game will come up on Wednesday against cup champions Akwa United before rounding up against Wikki Tourists on Friday.
Source: G Sport
