‘We Didn’t Take Our Chances’: Super Eagles Defender Laments After Defeat to Mali

• Omeruo says the Super Eagles were unlucky in the defeat to Mali
• The Super Eagles fell to a 2-0 defeat to Mali on Tuesday in Morocco
• The game was Nigeria’s second loss since the start of 2024

Kenneth Omeruo says the Super Eagles were not clinical in their surprise loss to Mali after they fell 2-0 to the Eagles in an international friendly game on Friday in Morocco.

Goals in each half from El Bilal Toure and Kamorou Dounmbia ensured Mali secured their first victory in 49 years against the Super Eagles who only managed three shots throughout the entire game.

According to the Daily Post, Omeruo claims the three-time AFCON champions were unlucky to lose even though they played a better game than they did in their previous encounter against Ghana.

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“I think we played a better second half, it wasn’t a bad game, we just didn’t take our chances and they scored two goals. Overall, I think we played a good game.

“I think it was a good outing for us, fantastic spirit. The players that were here gave their best. We just couldn’t score in the game.” Omeruo told the NFF.

Nigeria will hope to bounce back from the disappointing loss when the team regroups for the June 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin Republic.

Finidi speaks on Mali’s loss

Meanwhile, interim Super Eagles coach Finidi George blamed Nigeria's surprise loss to the Eagles of Mali on the unavailability of some of his strikers for the international friendly game, BSN Sports reports.

Osimhen, Taiwo Awoniyi, and Victor Boniface were not part of the friendly matches due to injury with Cyriel Dessers leading Nigeria’s attack in their absence.

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Finidi believes the outcome of the result could have been different if he had the complement of his full squad available for the game.

Nigerians want coach Finidi sacked

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that following the Super Eagles' 2-0 loss against Mali, Nigerian fans have reversed their position and urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to look for a new head coach.

Finidi could only watch his Super Eagles team fall apart against Mali’s Eagles after leading them to a 2-1 victory against Ghana four days earlier.

Nigeria played both friendlies ahead of the final preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, which begin in June.