25 January 2008
Lagos — Ahead of today's must win tie against Mali, Super Eagles first choice keeper, Austin Ejide, has absolved himself of any blame for the lone goal he conceded in the opening match against the Elephants of Cote d' Ivoire last Monday at the Essipon Stadium, Sekondi and is looking forward to victory.
The fair skinned keeper, who made his debut at the African Nations cup tournament with lone goal defeat, revealed that he did his best to ensure that he maintained a clean slate in the match but when the defining moment came, he tried all he could but the ingenuity of Salomon Kalou made him to become helpless.
The goalkeeper revealed to THISDAYSports shortly after the Super Eagles rounded up their training at the Railway ground yesterday for tonight's game that all the players have learnt a lot from the defeat and are rearing to go into the match against Mali as a united front to win.
"In the opening match against Cote d' Ivoire, I was determined to keep a clean slate and through out the match I avoided drop balls but when the goal eventually came there was nothing I could do and all my team mate consoled me after the match at the hotel.
"I don't want to shift the blame on my defenders because it's a collective responsibility but I must point it out that the manner with which the defence crumbled put me at psychological disadvantage to stop the striker.
"When those who are supposed to shield you at the battle field suddenly relax at their duty post what else do you want from the gate-man of the treasury? But like I said, we have learnt a lot for the match and it is my belief is that we are more united than before for the match against Mali," he explained.
The goalkeeper also took time out to explain how he stopped Kolo Toure's close range shot few minutes before the goal revealed that he had no problem at all saving the ball because the sea of legs in the vital area was a major hindrance to the Arsenal defender and the loop hole left was the direct space in front of him.
"There was panic at the stadium when Toure had the ball to himself but all the holes have been covered by the players in the vital area and the only option left was the space directly in front of me but if I had not positioned myself very well it would have been a different ball," Ejide explained.
The keeper salutes the courage of Coach Berti Vogts for the confidence he had in him for the match which was his first cap at the tournament.
"Honestly, since I joined the national team in 2001, aside the friendly matches which I have had opportunity to be in goal, its has been one reason or the other but the encouragement I received from Ike Shorunmu to wait for my time was inspiring and I will want to maintain my present form for a long time," he said.
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