The Eagles lacked cohesion against the Selecao - Ex-stars

Former Super Eagles players attributed the team's loss to Portugal to a lack of cohesion, reports PUNCH Sports Extra.

The three-time African champion ended the year on a losing note after a 4-0 loss to Selecao at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

The last time the Eagles won a Category A friendly was in 2019 when they beat Egypt 1-0 in Nigeria.

Speaking at the launch of the partnership between the Football Federation of Nigeria and Nigerian Breweries PLC, former Eagles defender Ifeanyi Udeze said the team's defense lacked proper understanding .

"The defense lacked good coordination and when that happens you are forced to concede goals," Udeze told PUNCH Sports Extra.

"There was no understanding between William Troost-Ekong and the player (Kevin Akpoguma) who was playing alongside him. They have to play compactly as a unit to earn matches.

"They didn't play like they wanted to win the game.

Former Eagles striker Julius Aghahowa, who scored Nigeria's only goal at the 2002 World Cup in Korea/Japan, said: "In the first half, the Eagles didn't have a chance to attack and the Stirkers didn't have a chance to score. We had to create more chances to score in games like this. The players looked scared to have the ball." Our team also lacked mobility.

Former midfielder Mutiu Adepoju said:

"The game wasn't exciting at all. They didn't have the will to win the game from the start."

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