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Nigeria's interim coach, Finidi George, shouldered the blame for his team's 2-0 defeat to Mali in a recent international friendly.
El Bilal Toure and Kamorou Dounmbia found the net for Mali, and handed the Super Eagles their first loss under Finidi's leadership.
While acknowledging some positive aspects of the performance, Finidi pinpointed defensive errors as the undoing of his team.
"I think it was just a few mistakes that cost us the match," he admitted to reporters.
"It was not a bad game.
"There was good intensity, and we created a couple of chances, but we couldn't convert them," he said.
Finidi highlighted the importance of capitalizing on opportunities and minimizing errors, especially in competitive environments.
"In a game like this, if you don't score and you make mistakes, you will be punished," he stated.
Despite the loss, Finidi expressed satisfaction with the overall performance of his players.
"I'm happy with the way the boys played, and it is quite positive," he said.
The coach will be looking to address the defensive lapses and build on the positives as the Super Eagles prepare for future challenges.
