Teddy Inengite, the coach of De Cardinal Sports Club of Port Harcourt says, his team was the better side and were unfortunate to have lost to El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Port Harcourt-based Football Academy club side were edged out of the 2023 Federation Cup after penalty kicks, following a 1-1 draw at the end of regulation time.
They had opened scoring through Godstime Nupe in the 25th minute and held on to the slim lead for a very long period in the match.
However, just when it seemed like the match was all done and dusted, Ismail Risilanu got the much-needed equaliser for El-Kanemi with a superb last-gasp shot from 20 yards.
READ: el-kanemi-warriors-manage-to-survive-de-cardinals-after-shootout
With the lottery of penalty kicks, it was the El-Kanemi Warriors who ran out 5-3 victors to advance to the round of 32.
Reacting to the outcome of the match Inengite said “That’s football for you. It was how it was designed to be and I cannot fault my team.
“We were the better team and tactically sound all through the game. We played out our hearts but couldn’t hold on for the victory at the last minute for one reason or the other, which I find difficult to explain.
“Our opponents were, however, more experienced and capitalised on just that last crucial moment in the match when we lost concentration, which really cost us the game.
“We are disappointed but still waxing strong as usual and give God all the glory for everything,” he said.
NAN also reports that the Port Harcourt-based Football Academy club side qualified for the round of 64 following their exploits in the Rivers FA Cup competition.
They only lost narrowly to eventual winners and NPFL defending champions Rivers United after pushing the football giants all the way to penalty kicks.
The coach stressed that matches against top-flight club side were not new to his team, adding that such games usually bring out the best out of his team.
“We are used to top premier league sides and have played a lot of friendlies as well as competitive games with many of them.
“Even in the build-up to the Federation Cup proper, we played some quality matches against some premier league teams in the Rivers FA Cup competition and we did very well.
“So, playing against an NPFL side does not really count for us when we face such opponents because we work so hard and these more experienced top-flight teams only bring out the best in us.
“We earned the right to be here and it was an exciting journey and a learning process for us,” Inengite said.
On his decision to change the team’s first-choice goalkeeper, Ozioma Uhomene at the last minute, just before the penalty kicks, he said it was purely a tactical decision.
“It was intentional and a tactical decision. Football has to do with a lot of tactics.
“I pulled Uhomene out because I know the ability of our second-choice goalkeeper. He has been the success behind the team when it comes to penalties.
“He has never failed to deliver whenever he comes on. It is unfortunate things went the way they did, but we are happy for the opportunity and experience gained.
“We are moving to the next stage by the grace of God as the boys are well-tutored and hungry for football success.
“We are gradually building up the team as we pray and work towards playing in the league as soon as possible,” he said. (NAN)
