Earth shaking discoveries have continued to trail the exit of Nigeria from the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations following the 2-2 draw Nigeria played against Guinea on Saturday in Abuja.

The Super Eagles captain Joseph Yobo told THE PUNCH at their Transcorp Hilton Hotel lodge that the confusion over the rules of the qualification contributed to the result they got from the match.

The defender said that the players had settled to defend their slim 2-1 lead with a few minutes left in the match than take the risk of seeking the third goal and leaving their defence open but contrary signals from the sidelines created the mess.

He said, “By our initial understanding a 1-0 win would see us through as the top team from the group but any other form of win was also enough for us to qualify as one of the best runners-up teams.

“So when we secured the lead the plan was to adjust our plan. And that meant defending the lead and taking on counter attack when the opportunity arose. That way we could still have scored the third goal without much risk. But we were asked to press for the third goal and we changed our plans again and pressed. And it became calamitous as it left our defences open because we all joined the attack and the Guineans capitalised on that.”

We learnt that the Eagles and their managers realised their folly after the final whistle when everyone blamed them for not holding on to their slim lead and qualify as one of the second best teams. Nigeria and Guinea would have qualified from the group even if Nigeria had beaten them by 1-0 by any other form.

South Africans who played goalless draw with Sierra Leone on Saturday had finished their celebration with a lap of honour before they realised they did not qualify.

Almost as big a mistake as South
Africa, who was actually
celebrating for 15 minutes until
they found out they had the
math all wrong.

heynew:

Why can't this guys keep quite so that we will mourn our exit peacefully, anytime any of them opens his mouth poo hits the fan

badmrkt:

blame GEJ for this

Kx:

Is it not possible some eagles conspired to "discipline" siasia over his high handedness?

isleman:

I put all the blame on siasia;

1. he was too harsh (over discipline)

2. Too disciplined he didnt use the best goal keeper.

3. had hamed Musa and Ike Uche and kept them on bench till second half

4. Asking the team to press for a third goal which was evident as all went on attack

5. removing joel obi for mike obi was the greatest mistake that led the second goal.

He should be fired or relegate to under 21

well stated my friend, a good Coach watches the trend of the game and at thesame time the performance of each player.
Siasia kept Ike Uche on the bench while Osaze was busy messing up on the field. Siasia waited too long to make the right changes.
he should be sacked jor.

donspony:

Yobo blamed the team manager.

Odemwingie blamed TB Joshua

Who's gonna blame GEJ too

emiye:

I think he was right, if they were aware 2-1 was enough, they simply would not have tried getting the third goal desperately.

I feel the thirst for the third goal led them to concede the second goal.

With good knowledge, at 2-1, they could have simply kept it calm. defend what they have cautiously, and see if they could get the 3rd goal

Syenite:

I am sure that if we had won by that 2-1 marging and finished 2nd and stilled qualified, Nigerians would have called for their heads for finishing behind Guinea even though they qualify.
Imaging the fans booing the Nigerian players when they were 0-1 down.It is a shame.
NIGERIAN FANS ARE THE MOST UNPATRIOTIC IN THE WORLD!