Raoul Savoy, head coach of Les Fauves of the Central African Republic, on Thursday described the 1-0 victory over Nigeria’s Super Eagles in Lagos as the best thing to have happened to the CAR team.

Mr Savoy stated this after his team defeated the Super Eagles, who failed to fly in the Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifier at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, in Lagos.

The Swiss-born coach said that though he had many victories in his past games, the one against Nigeria, football giants in Africa, was historic.

“I have won against many countries such as Morocco and Kenya during my coaching career, but in the history of Central African Republic, this is the best one. We have to respect ourselves in football, and today, my players will be happy at the dinner,” said the coach. “Nigeria is one of the best teams in Africa. The players and their status, but if you think that you have won before the start of the match, it will be suicidal.”

The victory notwithstanding, Mr Savoy tipped Nigeria to qualify for the World Cup ahead of other teams in Group C.

“I am not thinking about the World Cup because we are a work in progress. We are a young team; the slot for the World Cup is for Nigeria. We just want to play and qualify for the African Cup of Nations (AFCON),” the CAR coach added. “I said before now that if we can pick a point from the match against Nigeria, I will be the happiest man in the world, but now, we have three points. It is not that we are a better side, but we put a plan and Nigeria also put theirs, but our plans worked very well, that is football.”

The Super Eagles failed to consolidate their perfect start in the qualifiers, having picked six points from the earlier matches against Liberia and Cape Verde.

A lone goal by Karl Namngenda in the 91st minute came from a defensive blunder from the Super Eagles.

In-form Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen, failed to convert the scoring chances that came the Eagles’ way. Substitute Taiwo Awoniyi also fluffed their chances.

(NAN)