Engaging Error Costs Bayelsa United in Tight Away Clash
Bayelsa United’s head coach Monday Odigie admitted his side’s 1-0 loss to Niger Tornadoes was the result of a critical defensive slip in their Sunday NPFL Matchday 3 outing at Minna’s Bako Kontagora Stadium, according to.
Ismaila Sarki’s 27th-minute header proved decisive and snapped Bayelsa’s two-match unbeaten streak. Odigie, a former Golden Eaglets coach, pinpointed a lapse on the left flank that allowed the Tornadoes to deliver a dangerous cross culminating in the goal.
"Football is a game of mistakes. In the first half, you could see their attack from the left. The defenders failed to mark properly on the left side and the cross came in, leading to the goal," he explained, defending his players’ overall effort. "That’s football. Defenders are human beings. We need to go back and work on the mistake, and I hope we correct it before our next game."
Looking ahead, Bayelsa United prepare to host nine-time NPFL champions and two-time CAF Champions League winners Enyimba in Matchday 4. Reflecting on the defeat, Odigie kept it blunt "Nothing different from what you saw. At the end of the game, Niger Tornadoes 1, Bayelsa United 0. It happens in football. We made a mistake, and they punished us. That’s how the game goes."
Despite the setback, Odigie remains optimistic about the league’s potential: "We can always get better. No matter what we see now, the league can always get better. Many factors are responsible for its growth, but as we start this new season, improvement is key," he remarked.
He stressed the importance of respecting every opponent in such a competitive league: "I’ve always said every team in the NPFL is strong. Football is about taking your chances. If you take yours better than your opponent, you win. Every team in the NPFL deserves to be there. If you don’t respect them, it will be your undoing.
Bayelsa United’s head coach Monday Odigie admitted his side’s 1-0 loss to Niger Tornadoes was the result of a critical defensive slip in their Sunday NPFL Matchday 3 outing at Minna’s Bako Kontagora Stadium, according to.
Ismaila Sarki’s 27th-minute header proved decisive and snapped Bayelsa’s two-match unbeaten streak. Odigie, a former Golden Eaglets coach, pinpointed a lapse on the left flank that allowed the Tornadoes to deliver a dangerous cross culminating in the goal.
"Football is a game of mistakes. In the first half, you could see their attack from the left. The defenders failed to mark properly on the left side and the cross came in, leading to the goal," he explained, defending his players’ overall effort. "That’s football. Defenders are human beings. We need to go back and work on the mistake, and I hope we correct it before our next game."
Looking ahead, Bayelsa United prepare to host nine-time NPFL champions and two-time CAF Champions League winners Enyimba in Matchday 4. Reflecting on the defeat, Odigie kept it blunt "Nothing different from what you saw. At the end of the game, Niger Tornadoes 1, Bayelsa United 0. It happens in football. We made a mistake, and they punished us. That’s how the game goes."
Despite the setback, Odigie remains optimistic about the league’s potential: "We can always get better. No matter what we see now, the league can always get better. Many factors are responsible for its growth, but as we start this new season, improvement is key," he remarked.
He stressed the importance of respecting every opponent in such a competitive league: "I’ve always said every team in the NPFL is strong. Football is about taking your chances. If you take yours better than your opponent, you win. Every team in the NPFL deserves to be there. If you don’t respect them, it will be your undoing.