By Tony Ubani, Morocco
The mien of U-23 national coach, Austin Eguavoen was pitiable at the end of the 4-1 white-wash of the junior Desert Warriors of Algeria. The team won but they all filed out like mourners at a graveside. Not even Lawal who hit a hat-trick could celebrate his efforts, atleast, he got the ball for his efforts.

At the post match conference, Eguavoen looked ruffled, looked up to the heavens and declared; “I have disappointed Nigerians and I ask for forgiveness.

came here prepared to get a ticket for the Olympics and to make up for the failure of the other teams. We lost the first two games and I feel highly disappointed. The injury that claimed Kingsley Udoh in our first match against Morocco did not help us.

It was a big blow. In the second game we lost to Senegal. It was awful. I am yet to come to terms with what happened but I sincerely apologise to millions of Nigerians who are equally disappointed by our poor outing.

Anyone who knows me know that I put in my best in anything that I do. I did my best but amgoing out with a heavy load of disappointing my people.

*Eguavoen

For now, I quit and will head back to the clubs. I cannot beg to continue in my job because I did not meet up with my contractual agreements with the NFF.

My assignment was to qualify Nigeria for the Olympics and take the team to the semi-final. Now, it is finished and I go out to the clubs to struggle and to improve myself.

But I plead again that Nigerians should forgive. Also, I don’t want people to blame ex-internationals for this outing. There is nothing bad in ex-internationals handling the national teams.

Some other coaches who were not ex-internationals also failed. So, it is not right to say that ex-internationals have disappointed Nigeria and should be stopped from handing the national teams. Once again, tell Nigerians to forgive me”, crest-fallen Eguavoen pleaded.
And like they say, it is the confession, not the Priest, that gives absolution.