Eagles are not clinical in goal, but winning more important, says Owolabi

Posted : 23 January 2024

A former Green Eagles forward, Felix Owolabi, says the Super Eagles' failure to score many goals at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is not as important as getting wins.

Owolabi, reflecting on the Super Eagles' qualification for the knockout stage of the competition, said that winning matches was very important.

The Super Eagles qualified for the ongoing 2023 AFCON's next round on Monday after beating the Djurtus of Guinea-Bissau 1-0 at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan.

They could only secure the match's maximum three points, necessary for a smooth passage to the knockout stage, courtesy of an own goal by Djurtus' defender Opa Sangante.

He diverted the ball into his own net in a bid to stop an unmarked Victor Osimhen after 36 minutes of play.

However, Owolabi, who played for both Nigeria and the former IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan, still commended the Super Eagles for a brave fight to qualify for the next round.

"In a game of 90 minutes, what people are expecting is the outcome, with the question 'who won?' This is because the side with the highest number of goals will be credited as the winners.

"If, for any reason, an opposing side scored an own goal, it is because of pressure, and in the match, even if there was no own goal, we had players like Osimhen and others who could have scored.

"The own goal is counted in our favor, not minding who scored. What is important is who is the winner. But it is true that we are short of goal-scoring abilities," he said.

Owolabi, however, acknowledged that the Eagles qualified from the group stage as a result of hard work and the fact they mounted pressure on their opponents.

"It could have been either way," he said.

Owolabi, who had 35 international appearances for the Nigerian senior national team, also added that he was happy with the progression of the team at the ongoing AFCON.

"What is important to me is that I am happy about what is going on in the team, that they are gradually getting their steps right. It is true that they did not start well.

"So far, they scored a goal in their first match, which they drew. But then, they beat hosts Cote d'Ivoire, which is a triumphant victory through a penalty kick. Now, they have seven points, which is a good record.

"For me as a former footballer, an administrator, and a coach, the team is trying to pick up gradually.

"Because, come to think of it. What would it have been if we had been scoring but had been losing our games and failed to qualify?

"The level of preparedness of the team was high, and there is nothing bad in advising the team to improve on the goal-scoring abilities.

"We need more goals, however, because they will determine how far we will go," he stated.

Eagles are not clinical in goal, but winning more important, says Owolabi

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