Nigeria's coach, Samson Siasia, looked like a beaten man on Wednesday despite his boys overcoming the United States 2-1 at the Workers' Stadium in Beijing, to set up a quarterfinal meeting with Cote d'Ivoire in Qinhuangdao, about 272 kilometers from Beijing, local media reported on Thursday.

Even in victory, Siasia's corky nature and his blind defense of his fumbling players deserted him after his team led Nigeria through a harrowing experience on Wednesday.

He was humble to admit that not only did his boys register poor individuals play but also did not play as a team. He further admitted that they were not disciplined tactically, saying that unless they changed their ways, they would be sent out by Cote d'Ivoire or another team in the competition for the gold medal.

Siasia also admitted that this team cannot be compared to the Atlanta '96 team that won gold, as it still lacks some ingredients that make champions.

He said: "Though I won the game, I feel like a defeated man, as if I lost today. We didn't play well at all. We need to go back to the drawing board and come out with a winning formula.

"We need to learn from our mistakes. Without tactical discipline, we will continue to have problems. If we continue this way, we will eventually be in trouble. Our players need to play to instructions. We really need to do something fast before we are destroyed," he said.

About the needless tackle by his goalkeeper, Ambrose Vanzekin, which gave the Americans a penalty, Siasia said he needed to study the video first, adding: "But before that, I cannot say anything. As for my birthday coming tomorrow (today), I will still celebrate it with this win. A win is a win, but we just have to go back and work harder."

On whether the team can win the gold medal, Siasia said that, "a team that wants to win the gold medal does not play the way we are playing presently. The Atlanta '96 team that won the gold medal played to instructions. We need to imbibe that same culture here if we want to go far. It is either we shape up or we are shipped out."

Looking ahead of his team's match against the Ivoiriens, given that Nigeria has lost some crucial games against them in recent past, Siasia said: "It is the Super Eagles that have lost against the Ivoiriens, we are not Super Eagles but U-23.

"Having said that, I want to say that we are a good team that is capable of beating any team. All we just need to imbibe is discipline. My players play too much to the gallery and football is not show business but real business. I have watched our match videos and made changes, but I cannot do more than that.

"I wish I could join them on the field and play, but unfortunately, I cannot. I wish my players would be disciplined on the field because that is the only way we can go all the way."

(Xinhua News Agency August 14, 2008)