Smarting from his team's hard earned 2-1 victory over Argentina at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi on Friday evening, the former Nigeria Tornadoes Chief Coach was particularly happy with the way his team responded sharply to Argentina's first goal scored by Esteban Orfano in the second minute when Nigeria's forward, Omoh Ojabu equalised three minutes after.
Sani Emmanuel converted a spot kick in the 72nd minute to seal victory to top the group and securing second round berth for Nigeria in the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup being played in the country.
'I am particularly happy with the performance of my players against a tough and quality side like Argentina in today's match. I am also elated with our come back in the match; I mean the way my boys responded after Argentina's first goal. That shows character and seriousness on our part,' Obuh told PANA shortly after the game.
'I believe this team will continue to improve from game to game. The victory against Argentina today is good for the psychology of my boys and this would definitely place them in good stead to confront any other opponents we might face on our way to lifting the cup, by God's grace,' he added.
He praised to high heaven the performance of the Nigerian players saying that all of them performed above 80 per cent.
'Like I said before the beginning of the tournament, I have said our ambition and goal is to retain the cup won by our predecessor in 2007. Now that we have overcome our earlier scare in the tournament, I think the boys are in good frame of mind and positively in psychological frame of mind to achieve this objective,' Obuh vowed.
The disappointed Argentinian Head Coach, Jose Brown, however, blamed his defeat on the eight changes he made in the match.
Brown brought into the match against Nigeria eight players that have not played in the previous matches and he confessed that he had learnt his lessons in this game and would correct these lapses in the subsequent matches.
Brown, however, did not hide his respect and admiration for the Nigerian team which he confessed played a good match against his team.
'The Nigerian team is a very difficult side to play. The boys are very good and have a good chance of going far in the tournament.
'As regards my team I believe the changes I made which is eight players might have affected the performance of my team in today's game. But I am confident of the fact that the boys would bounce back in the subsequent matches. They have rested well for now and I am sure that by the time we play our next game they would go full blast and make our people happy at home.
'I thought I should give other people the chance to play in the tournament; th at was the reason for making these changes. But I have learnt my lessons now and the mistakes would be corrected in the subsequent games,' Brown promised.
Abuja - 30/10/2009
Pana
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