‘Players I know’ – Augustine Eguavoen explains choice of Super Eagles players

During a recent press conference, Augustine Eguavoen addressed criticisms surrounding his selection of Sadiq Umar and Kelechi Iheanacho for Nigeria’s upcoming matches.

This decision, which raised eyebrows given the players’ current form, was explained by Eguavoen as a matter of familiarity and time constraints.

Eguavoen stated, “I have had to stick with the players I know; it will be difficult to play those I have not worked with previously because of the short time to prepare for these matches.”

He emphasized that the limited preparation—just three to four days before the qualifiers—necessitated sticking with familiar faces to ensure team coherence.

The interim coach acknowledged the frustrations of fans, saying, “I know Nigerians love this game so much, but sometimes we’re not patient.” He expressed a desire to expand the talent pool in the future, indicating that opportunities to integrate new players will arise during friendlies.

Highlighting the tight match calendar, Eguavoen remarked, “Time is my biggest challenge.” He affirmed his commitment to strengthening the team and preparing capable replacements but reiterated the need for patience .