We Lost Because Our Coach Was Absent- Wanyama Laments as Ambrose Urges Him to Remain at Celtic Park.

Wanyama and Ambrose at Celtic.
Wanyama and Ambrose at Celtic.

Harambee Stars standing captain Victor Wanyama says were coach Adel Amrouche on the bench on Saturday it could have been a different game.

Kenya lost to Nigeria 1-0 in Nairobi in a 2014 World Cup qualifier on Wednesday, but the Celtic FC of Scotland defensive midfielder feels the best team lost.

He told Cafonline.com that Kenya were let down by poor concentration and the absence of suspended head coach Adel Amrouche.

“Amrouche is the head coach and not having him on the bench had an impact on our performance because of the lack of motivation work he does to lift up the team,” Wanyama said on the absence of their coach.

“We also put up a great fight but our concentration was too low. We could not keep the game flowing allowing Nigeria to move forward and search for goals.”

Wanyama also said the Kenyans were the better of both teams and feels the Harambee Stars could still reach the 2014 Brazil World Cup.

“Today the best team (Kenyans) lost. We had our chances but allowed our opponents to beat us on counter-attack. It is very disappointing but we have to pull ourselves together and try to well in our next match.

“We have two matches to go and if we pick six points we should finish on eight points and then see what happens from there,” Wanyama added on their chances of making it to Brazil 2014.

Meanwhile Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey has publicly endorsed Wanyama, to become an Arsenal player next season.

Ramsey, who just returned from Kenya on a summer holiday trip, is among the voices encouraging Gunners to bring the 21-year-old to the Emirate. Former Gunners star Pery Groves is the other as reported by Express.

Wanyama is expected to leave the SPL this summer with a host of English League clubs lining up for his services. Newcastle, Southampton and Stoke City have also admitted interest in the Kenyan international.

But Efe Ambrose who plays alongside Wanyama at Celtic feels the Glasgow club will suffer if and when his fellow African leaves Celtic park.

“It will definitely be a massive blow for the Celtic family if Wanyama leaves, Ambrose said.

“He has been the pillar of the team, especially in the midfield, and was bonding well with the rest of the team members. We had a fantastic season with Wanyama last term and I would love to see him at Celtic for the coming season.

“If he goes, Celtic will lose a top-class player and I will lose a brother. Wanyama is more than a brother to me. But these things happen in life. If he goes, we must accept and move on.”

“You can’t stop Wanyama from signing for a different club if a good offer is tabled,” Ambrose continued.

Efe Ambrose and Nigeria's Only Goal Scorer of the Day, Ahmed Musa.
Efe Ambrose and Nigeria’s Only Goal Scorer of the Day, Ahmed Musa.

Ambrose played for the Super Eagles side which stunned Kenya in Nairobi on Wednesday; the full-back sheds more light on their relationship back in Scotland:

“We are always together in Glasgow. We stay in the same apartment and drive to training together. He’s a very humble man, whose company I will not want to lose. But if he departs, I hope we’ll always keep in touch.”