Plateau United head coach Kennedy Boboye has regretted key decisions that went against his team in Tuesday’s CAF Champions League game at Etoile du Sahel.
United lost 2-4 to the Tunisian side in a first round first leg tie decided at the Olympic Stadium in Sousse, requiring a late rally to score two away goals which could prove decisive yet in their quest to reach the group stage.
The Nigerian champions saw themselves behind in the opening minute and were 3-0 down after just eight minutes on the clock through goals from Amr Marai and Amine Chermiti.
“First of all, I will say we lost concentration in the first two minutes even though the goals were offside to my own view,” Boboye told www.aclsports.com on Wednesday morning from Sousse.
“I think we didn’t meet up in that first two minutes because with a team like Plateau United, there’s no how we could have conceded like that. Three goals in the space of eight minutes which I wasn’t too happy with.”
TV replays showed Etoile winger Al Khali Bangoura might be in an offside position prior to the Tunisians’ first goal while the last goal also had hints of offside positioning.
Boboye is not ready to dwell on the outcome of the first leg and refuses to castigate the match officials.
“We will go back home and start thinking of what to do to make sure that we cancel the two goals against us in Nigeria,” said the former Udoji United striker.
“The most important thing is that yesterday has come and gone.
“They (the referees) are human beings and they do mistakes but it was glaring and the video is all over the Internet and people can see what I’m trying to talk about.”
When asked about the possibility of his side turning the tie around in the second leg, Boboye’s answer was in the affirmative.
“Definitely, it is doable. From my side to the players, we all know that we have to go back home and make sure we score three to four goals. Let’s say from two goals upwards.
“Plateau United have scored five goals in the league and we have scored three in the continental game this season so we know what the task is for us to go back home and score two unreplied goals to qualify for the group stage which is the bigger one. We will work towards that.”
United will host the return leg in Jos on March 18. Winner over two legs will join fifteen other African teams in the group stage of the 2018 CAF Champions League.
