Nigeria boss Lars Lagerback accused South Korea of time wasting as his team tumbled out of the World Cup.
Super Eagles take flight out of South Africa following draw
Nigeria coach Lars Lagerback accused South Korea of time wasting as his team tumbled out of the World Cup finals.
The Super Eagles could only draw 2-2 in Durban, a result which meant Lagerback's side finished bottom of Group B.
Nigeria had looked like they could be making an unlikely passage into the second round after Kalu Uche put them into a 12th-minute lead.
But headed goals from Lee Jung-Soo and Park Chu-Young put South Korea back in the driving seat and not even Yakubu Aiyegbeni's penalty was enough.
Disappointing
Time ran out as the Africans pressed for a decisive winner that would have put them in second place and Lagerback claimed their opponents had played down the clock to help secure the draw.
He said: "I was a little bit sorry about all the time wasting. I don't think it's fair play.
"It's very disappointing and I think the (Nigeria) players have done really well."
The manager could have few complaints about his team's exit, however, given the profligacy of his strikers in front of goal.
Yakubu was the worst culprit, missing from no more than four yards out with the entire goal gaping as the Everton striker only succeeded in prodding the ball wide.
Congratulate
Substitute Obafemi Martins also should have done better when put through but he too could not find the target.
Lagerback offered his congratulations to the Asian country as they booked a date with Group A winners Uruguay.
"Mostly I feel disappointed and sad," he added. "It's the results that count so there is not much to say, I can only congratulate the South Koreans.
"I am convinced that we deserved better in the World Cup.
"When they were ahead we continued to battle and we equalised. But it wasn't good enough."
