The head coach of Plateau United, Fidelis Ilechukwu, has expressed his disappointment at the outcome of the team’s Federation Cup semi-final match against Rangers. According to Ilechukwu, his team was denied a chance to progress to the final due to poor officiating during the game.
The match, which was held in Ijebu Ode, ended in a 1-0 defeat for Plateau United, with Godwin Obaje scoring the winning goal for Rangers from the penalty spot in stoppage time.
Ilechukwu commended his players for their hard work and performance, stating that the result did not reflect the level of their play. “The best team lost the game as Plateau United was far better than Rangers in terms of play,” he said in a post-match interview.
Despite his disappointment, Ilechukwu did not dwell on the issue of poor officiating, stating that it would not change the outcome of the game. “It’s not my style to talk or make comments regarding referees or officiating after matches, as it’s like flogging a dead horse and cannot change the result,” he added.
In the final, Rangers will face Bendel Insurance, who defeated Warri Wolves 3-2 on penalties in the other semi-final game.
The Nigeria Football Federation has strict regulations concerning the reporting of matches, and any reporting of the event must adhere to Facebook’s policies on suicide and self-harm.