Nigeria U20s skipper Kelechi Nwakali says he is gutted that the national team failed to qualify for the 2017 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations after a 4-3 loss to Sudan in Lagos on Saturday.

But unlike coach Emmanuel Amuneke, the ASJ/Diamond Academy midfielder has refused to blame his teammates for the loss to the Sudanese team.

Ignoring their off the field problems, one of the key factors why the Flying Eagles were knocked out is that they became complacent after earning a 2-1 win in the away clash two weeks ago and took their feet off the pedal in Surulere.

“Disappointed from the result today..., ” Nwakali briefly said on social media few hours after the clash at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

The Flying Eagles have qualified for the last six Fifa U20 World Cups and went through to the knockout rounds on each occasion.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel