Nigeria had a life lesson after AFCON exit - Okocha

Jay-Jay Okocha

thinks

deserved to vanquish

in their 1-0 loss in the Round of 16 of the

on Sunday.

The Super Eagles, who were expected to win the AFCON following their impressive display in the group stage, were shocked when

Youssef Msakni

met the back of the net for the North African after half-time.

They failed to make a comeback, and when Alex Iwobi was sent off, it was just made harder. Their run in the competition was cut short, and the interim manager Augustine Eguavoen stepped down from his role after the game.

The 48-year-old, who guided them in 73 appearances, and scored 14 goals for Nigeria, thinks that his side were beaten because the opposition came with a game plan which worked out for them.

“

It’s a disappointing night for us, but we have to say congratulations to Tunisia. Well-deserved victory. I think they outsmarted us tonight tactically,”

Okocha said on 

SuperSport 

as quoted by Completesports.

“They came with a good game plan and they executed it. And you know, it’s a lesson to every football lover. Football is always the winner…a game has to be played first.

“We didn’t do enough to win this match and we were taught a life lesson today. So, we just have to pick ourselves up, find positives and build from there.”

On the other hand, ex-Nigeria international Chukwu Ndukwe blamed overconfidence for their exit from the competition.

“The Tunisians prepared very well for the Eagles and when they saw that they can score they took the opportunity. And one thing about the North Africans, once they score you first, is always difficult to get back into the game,”

Ndukwe told the same portal.

“They counter-attacked well and throughout the match, the Eagles did not get any shot on target and I think they played with too much confidence thinking after they beat Egypt they can do the same against Tunisia.”

Nigeria won all the games in the group stage, becoming the only team to have done it in Cameroon.

Follow

for the