Algerian U23 national team coach, Andre-Pierre Schurmann has congratulated Nigeria following their victory at the recently concluded African U23 championship in Senegal.
Schurmann, who side lost 2-1 to the Dream Team VI in their second outing in the same tournament with Nigeria said he was disappointed at the outcome of the game, saying his side had more control of the match more than the eventual winner, Nigeria.
“First, I congratulate Nigeria on the victory. I’m not satisfied with the outcome of the meeting, because we had the game in hand. We played well. This is the highest level. In football, there are errors that can be very costly, and they cost us dearly. My players committed two individual errors that offered two goals to Nigeria. Now it’s back to work and prepare well for upcoming competitions.”
“The Players understand the high demand for maximum concentration during games. In this final, we played well. We could have won. The penalty was not the turning point of the match, because after we had many opportunities. At this level of competition we must not give the opponent the means to flag as we did. I cannot say I’m satisfied, because a coach is never happy after a defeat especially in the final.”
Meanwhile, the Nigeria U23 coach, Samson Siasia, has admitted that the team is not near an Olympics team, but insisted that the most important was the qualification and the trophy.
Sia-one said that all the errors of the team will be fixed ahead of the football events of the 2016 Olympic games in Rio.
“I’m very happy today to have won this trophy, even if it was difficult, but the essential thing was done. It was not easy for us taking into considerations the teams we met in the first and second round. Algeria is a good team and they showed that on the pitch, and playing well. My players also did well by scoring the goals we needed to win the match. Now we will continue to work, correct our mistakes and improve our game.”
“I was coach of Nigeria during the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008, when we reached the final, and in 2016 we will aim to do more than reaching the final by winning the trophy.”
