Finidi takes positive from Enyimba’s humiliating AFL exit

Enyimba of Aga head Coach Finidi George has attributed his team’s elimination from the African Football League (AFL) to ‘few mistakes’ made in the second leg of their quarter-final clash against Wydad Athletic Club in Casablanca on Thursday.

The former Nigeria international has however taken some positives from the experience following the 4-0 aggregate loss to the Moroccan who won 1-0 in Nigeria on Sunday and 3-0 in the reverse fixture in Morocco.

‘I think it was not a good match for us especially in the first half, the former Ajax and Real Betis winger stated. But I think it was because of the way
Wydad played….a lot of pressure and few mistakes from my players, and they got that early goal.

‘After that, we knew it was going to be difficult to come back because it was already 2-0 (on aggregate). A goal in Nigeria and scoring in the 3rd minute, we
knew it was going to be difficult,’ said Finidi at the post-match press conference.

The People’s Elephant paraded a lot of youngsters including 16-year-old Flying Eagles midfielder Daniel Daga, Eze Ekwutoziam, Chidiebere Nnachi, Chibueze
Izuogu, and Adiele Eriugo; and Finidi, who is also the first assistant coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, believes the future is bright for his side.

‘We have a lot of young players,’ the 52-year-old tactician noted. ‘We are working towards something. I think in the coming years, these players will
graduate and they will have that experience.

‘For them, it’s a big experience playing in a big tournament like this. Unfortunately, we didn’t qualify. So, we’ll learn from what we’ve done wrong and try
to be better in the future.

‘It’s a good tournament, and for the young players that are coming up, it’s also a good experience for them. In one or two years they will have the
experience and whenever they compete like this, they’ll do much better.’