El Shaabani: "Our Match Against Rivers Was 'Crazy'... In Football, You Must Never Give Up, and That's What Our Players Did"

Nahdet Berkane coach Moïn El Shaabani confirmed that his team's 2-1 victory over Rivers United came in a “crazy match.” He noted that the difficult weather conditions clearly affected the players' performance, despite their high spirits and strong reaction in the final minutes.

El Shaabani stated in the post-match press conference: “It was a crazy match at certain moments. Even El Kaabi, who contributed to both goals, came on as a substitute. In football, you must never give up, and that's exactly what our players did.”

He added: “I don't like to make excuses about the climate, but even when I was running a little near the touchline or watching the match from the bench, I struggled to breathe. The humidity was very high. Nevertheless, we showed a strong reaction, and I thank the players for their efforts.”

The Nahdet Berkane coach continued, discussing his conversation with the referee: “I was discussing with him the frequent falling of some players without reason, and even the doctor entered very slowly, then the player quickly returned to the field. There were also five substitutions, and in the end, the referee awarded seven minutes of added time. Overall, the referee had a good game.”

El Shaabani concluded: “We didn't play our true football somewhat due to the climate. Despite that, we created many chances, and thankfully we scored two goals and achieved an important victory in the final minutes, which is fantastic.”