Paul Put: Burkina Faso could have won the Afcon

12 Feb 2013 3:00:00 PM

The Stallions Coach tells Goal.com his side bungled a number of goal chances that could have put them ahead of the Super Eagles in the final

Burkina Faso coach Paul Put has joined millions of fans who believe their team was not disgraced by Nigeria during the final of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations played on Sunday at the Soccer City, National Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The Belgian said his side was able to put up a fight that stunned even the coach of the Super Eagles, as well as their supporters, and that at a time many of them were panic-stricken that an equaliser was impending.

“Nigeria played a mature and responsible game with many calculations and cautions, but they were lucky to hit our net early, and were able to conserve that lead till the end,” Put said.

“Losing 1-0 to a team is equivalent to a narrow escape for your opponent and not a drubbing. We had our moments and chances during the meeting, but due to poor focus and aimlessness, some of my men threw away their efforts.

“We could have scored first, or even equalised and forced the session to extra time or carried it off with a second goal. However, it has happened and such is football. We’ll learn from this and I believe Burkina Faso have entered the group of top nations on the continent.”