Black Easter for Nigerian duo

The Nigerian duo was hoping to clinch the trophy with their team to book a place in next season’s Uefa cup competition after a terrible run in the domestic league.

Grasshoppers, in their 31st final, were taking on a relegation-threatened team who had never previously progressed beyond the last four and have an estimated €3.2m debt.

According to Emoefe it was a black Easter for his team and a double blow for him and his Nigerian colleague, as they didn’t get to see action on the field.

“We didn’t get a look in for health reasons on Monday” he told Nigeriasports.com

“The coach said Femi just got back from injury and he won’t risk him for a cup final. I was also in the start list only for the team doctor to inform me few minutes to the game that I still have flu in my system although the coach was sad at the report” said Emoefe.

“It was a shock to lose to a team like Wil. Personally it was hard for Femi and I after losing the Athens ticket to Tunisia then the Cup final again.

Coming from a 6-5 dramatic victory in the semi final the duo felt they’ve had their toughest scare and the final was going to be an easy ride.

“The Semi final game caught the attention of the whole of Switzerland because people don’t get to see a 6-5 score line often and moreover we came from 5-2 down to win that game. People came out to watch a total spanking of FC Wil in the final but instead we were the losers on the afternoon” Emoefe added.

Opabunmi who just bounced back from a knee injury was quick to resign to faith and sounded philosophical in his reaction to the loss.

“Sometimes God make us happy and sometimes he makes other people enjoy the smiles and joy of being winners too. I know it’s tough and hard to accept the loss but I know God has a bigger plan for us” he said.

“I felt I should have played but the coach explained to me that it will be a tough game and he wouldn’t want to push me into it despite conceding that he would have loved to play  me but I think a lot of things happen for a purpose best known to God” he concluded.

Meanwhile, FC Wil 1900 will make their UEFA Cup debut next season after lifting the Swiss Cup for the first time with that dramatic 3-2 victory against 18-times winners Grasshopper-Club in Basel.

Grasshoppers and their Nigerian duo, whose last cup success was a decade ago, may now miss out on Europe for only the second time since 1994. They lie fifth in the Super League, eleven points adrift of third-placed Servette FC in the only remaining UEFA Cup berth.

Grasshoppers played in the 2003/2004 Uefa champions’ league but narrowly missed out on the group stage, losing on goals aggregate to Greek side AEK Athens.