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Super Eagles coach Samson Siasia was at a loss to explain Nigeria's shock 2-2 draw with minnows in their 2012 Nations Cup qualifier in Addis Ababa on Sunday.
A late Joseph Yobo goal helped the Eagles to salvage a point from the encounter. With Group B leaders Guinea defeating Madagascar 4-1 in Conakry on Sunday to maintain their advantage at the top of the table, the Addis Ababa result could cost the Eagles a place in the Nations Cup. Nigeria have a mountain to climb as they must win their remaining two games to make it to the tournament to be co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
At first, Siasia blamed his team for their failure to rise to the challenge, saying they gifted the Ethiopians a point in the game.
"We did not play well in the first half," Siasia said after the match.
"We gave them too many chances. We made too many mistakes especially in midfield."
But the Tunisia' 94 Nations Cup winner would later blame the Ethiopian capital's high altitude and fatigue for his side's unimpressive performance.
"The altitude was a big problem and fatigue as well, we didn't rest that well," Siasia was quoted by Reuters as saying after the match.
"The journey was too much for us, it was seven hours."
The Eagles arrived in Addis Ababa early hours on Sunday.
However, Yobo insists Nigeria still have a chance to qualify for the Nations Cup despite walking a tightrope to stop Guinea from booking the available ticket in the group to the tournament.
" We are still very hopeful because with two games to go, anything could still happen. We just have to make sure we win those two games," the Fenerbahce defender told MTNFootball.com.
Source: The Punch