Okocha On Etebo's Own Goal : Mandzukic Would Have Scored

Published: June 17, 2018

Former Super Eagles star, Austin Okocha has posited that Oghenekaro Etebo was unlucky with the own goal which Nigeria conceded in the first half in their World Cup encounter with Croatia on Saturday evening.

The Super Eagles No. 8 put through his own net while stretching for a clearance from a Mario Mandzukic's header following a corner situation to put the Croats 1-0 up in the first period.

"In as much as it was an own goal, the striker (Mandzukic) would have scored had the ball not gone in.

"These are the little mistakes we have got to correct if we are to go far in this tournament. But even with the way the result stands, there are still a lot of positives to take out from that first period", Okocha said during the first half analysis.

Luka Modric doubled Croatia's advantage on 71 minutes when he converted a spot kick, the referee awarded a penalty after William Troost-Ekong pulled Mario Mandzukic by the shirt.

In the other group game earlier in the day, Iceland held much fancied Argentina to a 1-1 stalemate.

Emmanuel Chinaza

Photo Credit : thenff.com