In this interview, Super Eagles defender Kenneth Omeruo tells ’TANA AIYEJINA about his experience in Russia, where the Nigerian side crashed out in the group stage
How do you feel after the loss to Argentina?
It was very painful, I must tell you. I’m still in shock because we all wanted to win and qualify for the last 16 of the tournament. As players, we wanted victory not defeat; no player wants to lose and no fighter wants to go to the war front and get defeated. I felt bad, the team came from a situation where we lost the first game to Croatia, and then we fought well and won the second game against Iceland. We knew we needed that last game to seal it up, and the support we got after winning the second game was amazing. We really wanted to do it especially for our families and for Nigerians but we were unlucky. However, I’m sure we will bounce back soon.
What do you think led to the defeat against Argentina, after Eagles put up a gallant display against Iceland?
I really don’t know, but as I said earlier, we never wanted to lose any of our games at all, we wanted to win, but that’s football for you.
You gave Lionel Messi a hot chase on the way to the Argentines’ first goal. Do you think the team could have done better in avoiding that goal from Messi?
They were attacking a lot, they blocked our wings, they knew we were better from the Victor Moses wing because he is one of our best players, they knew this.
How did the Eagles react to the defeat afterwards on getting to their hotel?
It was and still very painful, we are also humans and defeat has got no friends. We were all in sober mood and football is one game that unifies everyone. Over 200 million Nigerians love football, and we wanted to do it for our country, set a record but it just didn’t happen. I’m still in a bad mood till now and I want to apologise to Nigerians. We all know the way our fans feel, we actually feel very bad too because everyone was expecting us to get a result against Argentina and advance to the last 16.
This is your second World Cup and another defeat to the Argentines. Does this statistics show that the Argentines are better than the Eagles?
I think we are better than them even though I have ended up on the losing side against them at two World Cup meetings.
What are your best and worst moments in Russia?
I don’t have any worst moments at all, but I think my best moment was my performance against Iceland, and also against Argentina which got a lot of top teams (coming) after me, as well as lots of pundits from all over the world praising me.
You were not considered against Croatia in the Eagles’ first game. How did you get back into the starting XI?
I think from the coach’s point of view, he felt the defence needed to be fortified. That is why he had to include me in the squad against Iceland. And the improvement in the defence was obvious in that match, much better than how we performed against Croatia. Dedication, prayers and hard work, and also advice from my family, as well as the encouragement and the African never-say-die approach kept me going. And when I got the chance to come back into the team, I made full use of the opportunity.
There have been rumours about interests from European giants Juventus , AC Milan and Fenerbache? Are you considering quitting Chelsea?
For now I’m a Chelsea player, I don’t want to be distracted about any deal for now. My focus for now is to resume pre-season and my main target is to break into the Chelsea squad, hopefully with prayers and hard work.
Which team are you tipping to win the tournament?
(Laughs) I think it’s going to be very hard to predict; perhaps France but it’s going to be very tight to choose.
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