Raoul Savoy, Head Coach, Les Fauves of the Central African Republic, on Thursday described the 1-0 victory over Nigeria’s Super Eagles in Lagos as the best thing to have happened to the team.
Savoy made the remark after his team defeated the Super Eagles who failed to fly in the Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifier at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, in Lagos.
The Swiss-born coach said that though he had many victories in his past games, the one against Nigeria, the giants of football in Africa, was historic.
“I have won against many countries such as Morocco and Kenya during my coaching career, but in the history of Central African Republic, this is the best one.
“We have to respect ourselves in football and today, my players will be happy at the dinner.
“Nigeria is one of the best teams in Africa. The players and their status, but if you think that you have won before the start of the match, it will be suicidal.
“We respected Nigeria more than they respect us, but that is human beings for us,” he said.
The victory notwithstanding, Savoy has tipped Nigeria to qualify for the World Cup ahead of other teams in Group C.
“I am not thinking about the World Cup because we are work in progress, we are a young team; the slot for the World Cup is for Nigeria.
“We just want to play and qualify for the African Cup of Nations (AFCON).
“I said before now that if we can pick a point from the match against Nigeria, I will be the happiest man in the world, but now, we have three points.
“It is not that we are a better side, but we put a plan and Nigeria also put theirs, but our plans worked very well, that is football,” he said.
NAN reports that the Super Eagles lost to a more determined side.
The team thus failed to consolidate their perfect start in the qualifiers, having picked six points from the earlier matches against Liberia and Cape Verde.
A lone goal by Karl Namngenda in the 91st minute emanated from a defensive blunder from the Super Eagles.
In-form Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen, failed to convert the scoring chances that came the Eagles way.
Substitute Taiwo Awoniyi also fluffed the chances that came his way during the encounter. (NAN)