Azeez Gives Hope To Team Members

Despite Nigeria’s 12-6 loss to Italy on Thursday at the 2017 Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup, Super Sand Eagles top scorer Abu Azeez believes the team will bounce back from the loss.

It was a nightmare start to the campaign for the Sand Eagles as the Azzurri put up a show to put 12 past a hapless and tired looking Nigerian side.

Azeez, who scored three of Nigeria’s six goals, told supersport.com that Nigerians should expect a much-improved performance in the next game against Mexico.

“Several factors led to our defeat but I don’t want to make excuses. The Italians were better on the day and they deserved to win,” he stated.

“It was a game of experience, tactics and the physical side. We all know when the chips are down experience will outrun power and that was what happened.

“Unfortunately due to logistics, three of our players got to the Bahamas a few minutes before kickoff while I and three others got in just under an hour to kickoff and that played a role in the game.

“Fatigue set in at a point and it played a huge role in our fitness levels. The Italians are hot favourites for the title, so it was a tall order for us yesterday.

“Nigerians should definitely expect a much-improved game in our next match. We are not training today (Friday) so as to rest our limbs and be fresh for the next game. We will do better.”

The Sand Eagles will be up against Mexico on Saturday in their second Group B game.