Laloko bemoans Nigeria world cup exit, blames lack of concentration

Abuja – Kashimawo Laloko, an Assistant Technical Director with the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), on Monday blamed lack of concentration for Nigeria’s exit from the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles lost 0-2 to France on Monday in Brasilia in a Round of 16 tie to crash out of the competition.
Laloko, however, said in a telephone interview that issues arising from the bonus row might have contributed majorly to the team’s exit.
“I think the players didn’t realise the importance of today’s game and I think they got a little frustrated towards the end.

Keshi and Yobo
“One can easily say we have gotten to the phase where we have always ended. It is possible that the bonus row affected the team.
“Every outstanding bonus should have been paid before this encounter to avoid all these excuses.
“We would have been smiling by now, if not that the situation in the team’s camp was mismanaged. Because, even if you are not going to pay all bonuses, you should pay some.
“It is possible the boys stomached all these things and decided to show it in their performance. It has not helped Nigeria at all,’’ Laloko said.
He pointed out that the team would have defeated the French team if not for the distractions, noting that the French team was not tactically balanced earlier in the game.
Laloko also frowned at a situation where the Eagles were carried away by team captain Joseph Yobo’s 100th cap celebration, adding that it was another major source of distraction.
“We would have gone beyond this stage. But, along the line, I became worried because the players themselves became frustrated and the French team took over.
“I knew the Eagles will regret the errors they were making once the French team got a goal, and it later happened.
“In  fact, my position all the time about Yobo was that his inclusion in the team was going to be a minus.
“I didn’t expect him to do better than he did and was not surprised that the team went ahead to celebrate his 100th cap for the national team instead of concentrating on the competition,’’ he said.
Paul Pogba capitalised on a Vincent Enyeama error from a corner kick to open scoring in the 79th minute for the French team.
The victory was then sealed when Yobo deflected the ball into his own net in the 90th minute due to pressure from French substitute Antoine Griezmann.
Nigeria’s exit from the competition handed the French team a quarter-final place.(NAN)