Ukaegbu rues costly mistakes in Enyimba loss
Interim Head Coach Lawrence Ukaegbu has blamed Enyimba’s defeat to Remo Stars on defensive ‘mistakes’ committed by his team.
Former Enyimba striker Victor Mbaoma capitalized on some defensive mix-ups to score a brace, and help the Sky Blue Stars record a 2-1 win against the People’s Elephant in a Matchday 16 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) encounter in Abeokuta on Sunday.
Nonetheless, speaking after the match, Ukaegbu hailed the performance of his side, and noted that the result would have been different but for the defensive lapses that gifted the hosts the win.
“It was a very good game, but we lost,” he said. “If not for the cheap goals we conceded, it would have been a different outcome.
“We lost because of the silly mistakes that caused the two goals against us. We have to go home and correct those mistakes. Everybody knows it was a mistake from the defence and goalkeeper that was not supposed to come up.”
The result leaves the 2-time African champions 13th on the standings, with 20 points from 16 matches, and desperately in need of improvement to achieve their target of, at least, playing continental football next season.
The 58-year-old former youth international has, however, called for ‘calm’, adding that Enyimba will rise again.
He said: “The fans should be calm; we’ll still return to the top. That’s the way Enyimba plays.”
The 9-time record NPFL champions will next face Kwara United in Aba on Sunday in a Matchday 17 NPFL clash.