Finidi: We Have To Defend Better
Finidi George has admitted his side needs to ‘defend better’ after watching the People’s Elephant concede two first half goals to lose 2-0 to struggling Dakkada FC in a week 17 Nigeria Professional Football League clash on Sunday.
Ezekiel Edidiong opened scoring for hosts Dakkada after just 6 minutes, before skipper Aniekan Ekpe converted a 39 minute penalty to seal the win for the modest Uyo-based outfit.
Speaking to www.enyimbafc.net after the match, the former Real Betis and Real Mallorca star George expressed sadness with the defeat, adding that the early goal unsettled his side.
The 50-year-old gaffer, who won the prestigious UEFA Champions League with Ajax in 1995, equally reckoned that his Enyimba side will have to do better defensively in subsequent games to avoid letting in goals unnecessarily.
“It’s really sad that we had a game plan and we lost it in the first 15 minutes,” the former Super Eagles winger said.
“We should defend well, we should defend well, which we didn’t do. So, that caused us two goals and the team could react. We had possession but that was not enough.
“You know how it is in the second half, (Dakkada FC) players were wasting time and all sorts of things were happening in the second half.
“The game would have been much better if we had ended the first half 0-0. I think that would have given us an edge to go and see if we can get a goal, but that didn’t happen.
“I think we have to defend a little bit better.”
Following the defeat to Dakkada on Sunday, the 2-time African champions Enyimba dropped to 8th spot on the NPFL standings, with 24 points from 17 games.
The record 8-time league champions will next entertain second-placed and in-form Plateau United, who are on a 9-match unbeaten streak, on Saturday in Aba.