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Soccer News of Monday, 12 March 2001

Source: p.m.news

Accra Battle A Big Flop - Babangida Declares

Genclebirligi of Turkey wing ace, Tijani Babangida, has described the performance of he and his teammates in yesterday's World Cup qualifier against Ghana's Black Stars, which ended goalless in Accra, as a big disappointment.

Babangida who spoke to P.M. Sport after the match did not mince words while commenting on the Super Eagles' mediocre display, saying the team failed to live up to its billing in spite of playing against a lowly Ghanaian squad.

"We're a big disappointment in this match as far as I'm concerned. It is really sad that even while playing against a bunch of wholly home-based Black Stars team, all we could get is a goalless draw", Babangida declared.

The former Ajax Amsterdam player, who came on as a substitute late in the second half said due to the result of the tie, the Super Eagles have been put in a tight situation which requires them to win all their remaining matches to ensure qualification for the World Cup.

Many of the Super Eagles players, with the exception of a few like goalkeeper Ike Shorunmu, defenders Taribo West and Ifeanyi Udeze were nothing to write home about as they failed to combine effectively.

The Eagles did not look determined to get a win in Accra as the midfield which comprised of Austin Okocha, skipper Sunday Oliseh, Finidi George and Garba Lawal failed to provide the necessary support to the two strikers, Nwankwo Kanu and Victor Agali.

The only tangible effort of the Eagles at scoring came towards the end of the drab encounter when the leggy Agali beat goalkeeper Sammy Adjei and a defender, but his half volley sailed inches over the cross bar.

Like the better-rated Super Eagles, the Black Stars turned out a dismal performance, failing to make use of the few scoring chances they created as Super Eagles goal tender, Shorunmu rescued his side on at least three occasions