Cape Town - Ghana winger Christian Atsu admits the team are hugely
disappointed to have lost against Senegal in their Africa Cup of Nations
opener, but says they will bounce back in grand style in their
remaining Group C matches.
The Black Stars looked composed in the early stages of the game after taking a half-time lead through Andrew Ayew, but second-half goals from Stoke City striker Mame Diouf and Moussa Sow sealed a 2-1 victory for the Teranga Lions.
And while Chelsea playmaker Atsu - who is currently on loan at Everton - admits the result was hard to swallow, he remains confident of bouncing back in their remaining two group-stage matches, against Algeria and South Africa.
"We played against a very good side and we must accept the defeat, no need to cry foul on the results, it is a true reflection of what happened on the field of play, although we could have done better in the second half," he told Football411's Ghana correspondent Russel Wiafe.
"The Senegal game is over and we have two more games to play in the group stages, we must concentrate and plan on how to bounce back in our two remaining matches in the group.
"We have no excuse now after losing to Senegal, so what we have to do is to go all out against Algeria and South Africa in the other games and pick the six points to qualify from the group.
"We can qualify from this group despite our early setback, these things happen in football and we must just accept the defeat and move on from there."
The Black Stars looked composed in the early stages of the game after taking a half-time lead through Andrew Ayew, but second-half goals from Stoke City striker Mame Diouf and Moussa Sow sealed a 2-1 victory for the Teranga Lions.
And while Chelsea playmaker Atsu - who is currently on loan at Everton - admits the result was hard to swallow, he remains confident of bouncing back in their remaining two group-stage matches, against Algeria and South Africa.
"We played against a very good side and we must accept the defeat, no need to cry foul on the results, it is a true reflection of what happened on the field of play, although we could have done better in the second half," he told Football411's Ghana correspondent Russel Wiafe.
"The Senegal game is over and we have two more games to play in the group stages, we must concentrate and plan on how to bounce back in our two remaining matches in the group.
"We have no excuse now after losing to Senegal, so what we have to do is to go all out against Algeria and South Africa in the other games and pick the six points to qualify from the group.
"We can qualify from this group despite our early setback, these things happen in football and we must just accept the defeat and move on from there."