Super Eagles forward Kelechi Iheanacho expressed his disappointment over the team’s failure to win the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast but assured that they would be back, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Nigeria lost 2-1 in the final to Ivory Coast at the Stade Alassane Ouattara, ending the team’s dreams of a fourth continental crown.
After a sloppy start to the tournament where they played a 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea in their first game, the Eagles picked up the pace in their second game against the hosts claiming a 1-0 win and remained undefeated until their final game in the final against the Elephants.
After beating Guinea-Bissau in the final group stage they convincingly dispatched Cameroon in the round of 16 to set up a date with Angola, who they defeated 1-0.
In the semi-finals, Jose Peseiro’s men labored to a 4-2 win via penalty shootouts after a 1-1 draw in the regulation time with an extra 30 minutes.
Unfortunately, they couldn’t get the better of the hosts for the second time as they succumbed to a 2-1 defeat despite taking the lead through William Troost-Ekong.
The defeat left many of the Eagles players in tears with some sections of fans launching attacks on Alex Iwobi.
“Normally na this one dey pain pass wey you don see the trophy but you no touch am na wahala,” he wrote.
“We will be back. Thank you to all Nigerians who supported us. God bless you all, let’s keep believing. Thank you Most High God,” Iheanacho wrote.
Next up for the Super Eagles is the World Cup qualifiers set for May this year.
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