Nigeria forward Osaze Odemwingie has hailed the tactics adopted by Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac that ensured the Black Stars first Africa Cup of Nations final since 1992.
The Russia-based striker criticised the strategy adopted by his own Super Eagles coach Shaibu Amodu for Thursday’s semi-final 1-0 defeat to the Black Stars of Ghana.
Osaze said the Eagles knew their opponents would play a lone striker upfront with the rest of the players in the defence but the approach Nigeria adopted as a counter did not work.
He said, "I think we have used all the luck we had so far in this tournament. Ghana deserved the victory they played very well.
"We played as individuals not as a team and I think we need more tactical flexibility than to play 4-3-3 all the time. We need to play more attacking football.
"We played with one striker and it did not help us and we did not get a lot of chances. We could have played much better.”
The Lokomotiv Moscow player also blamed the defeat on fatique.
Their quarterfinal game against Zambia on Monday was decided on penalties after the regulation and extra-time ended goalless.
"Many of us were tired in the game though that was not an excuse to lose," he said.
"It is even more difficult for us now because we have just one day travel and rest before our third place match on Saturday."
Amodu expressed disappointment with the result, saying he did not deserve to lose the encounter.
"My contract is until August," Amodu said in the post-match press conference.
”If I‘m still in charge up to the World Cup I will look at our deficiencies in this competition and look at areas of reinforcement.
”I don‘t think we lost to a better side, we lost to a youthful and enterprising side.”
”I don‘t those that will play on Saturday but I suspect there will be room for those who have not had their chance in the tournament.”
The Black Stars were able to defeat the Eagles without their big name players like Michael Essien, Stephen Appiah, John Mensah, Laryea Kingston and John Pantsil.
Source: Ghanasoccernet
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