Losing AFCON 2000 final to Cameroon at home still painful, says Shorunmu
Former Nigeria international, Ike Shorunmu, has revealed that losing the 2000 African cup of Nations final on the home soil is still hunting him.
The Super Eagles were beaten by the indomitable lions of Cameroon on penalties after they both played 2 – 2 after the full time and extra time at the National Stadium in Surulere.
Ike who represented Nigeria in three different African Cup of Nations tournaments said he was disappointed not to win the tournament after coming so close in the year 2000.
”The 2000 Nations Cup on home soil was the most painful because we got to the finals and couldn’t win against a team who has previously beaten us at the 1984 and 1988 Finals.
I thought we deserved to win because we played really well at the finals and when it got to penalties, we were just too unlucky.” said in social media Sports Forum, FUBF.
Ike was in go when the Super Eagles lost in the semi-final to Senegal two years later in Maili but they eventually won bronze again.
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”I would have loved to win the AFCON as a player, but it wasn’t to be and I am grateful to God for all these experiences. Winning it as a coach at the 2013 AFCON in South Africa was even more fulfilling because no one gave us a chance to win it away from home. He concluded.
Ike Shorunmu also represented played at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, after missing the 1998 edition in France.