Sierra Leone coach, Ahmed Kanu, has said that his team is not ashamed losing to Nigeria.
The Leone Stars lost 4-1 to the Super Eagles in their last Group Four 2010 Nations Cup/ World Cup qualifying game at the National Stadium in Abuja on Saturday.
The result helped Nigeria finish the second round qualifying group with a maximum 18 points from six matches and qualified for the draw for the third round of the qualifying tournament which will be conducted in Zurich, Switzerland on October 22.
Kanu told reporters after the encounter that his team came for a draw but regretted that it could not realise the dream.
The former Sierra Leone international said, “We lost four of our regular players to injury and that affected us badly.
“We came to Nigeria with 13 players and we found it difficult on the field as we had no players on the reserve bench.
“When we were a goal down we were hopeful of sharing the points but when Nigeria scored the second goal we knew it was over.”
Chris Obodo put the Eagles ahead in the 21st minute before Everton defender Joseph Yobo scored an own-goal in the 32nd minute after a misunderstanding with Bolton’s Danny Shittu.
Italy-based Obinna Nsofor shot into the net in 36th minute after collecting a rebound from the post.
Leading 2-1 at the interval, Nigeria added goals from Chidi Odiah in the 51st and Ikechuku Uche in the 73rd.