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Football | Afcon

Gervinho © Action Images

Football gods favoured Nigeria - Gervinho



Ivory Coast winger, Gervinho has sensationally declared that the "football gods were on Nigeria’s side" after the Elephants lost 1-2 in one of the quarterfinals of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

Goals by Emmanuel Emenike and Sunday Mba sandwiched Chieck Tiote’s effort as the Super Eagles booked a semifinal date with Mali.

Gervinho has now voiced his sentiments following his side’s failure to live up to their favourites tag as they came unstuck against a gutsy Nigerian side.

“We played well but I guess the football gods were on Nigeria’s side (on Sunday). It’s history repeating itself all over again,” Gervinho said.

The ‘golden generation’ of the Ivory Coast have flattered to deceive in recent tournaments, failing to add to their solitary success in 1992 and Gervinho was quick to apologise to his countrymen following yet another failure at Africa’s biggest soccer showpiece.

"We are so disappointed with this loss to Nigeria. We tried to win and that didn’t happen despite us playing so well.

“We would have preferred to win rather than just playing well. I don’t know how to justify this so we can only apologise to the fans,” he said.

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