Austine Eguavoen says converting scoring chances is still a major concern for the Super Eagles at the 2021 AFCON.
So far the Eagles have scored four goals in their opening two games at the tournament.
They defeated Egypt 1-0 thanks to a Kelechi Iheanacho stunner and netted three times against Sudan in their second Group D game.
But speaking in his pre-match presser ahead of Wednesday’s final group game with Guinea-Bissau, Eguavoen disclosed that it is one of the weakness in his team.
Also Read: Guinea-Bissau Goalie Mendes: We’re Motivated To Beat Nigeria
He however expressed hope that there will be an improvement against Guinea-Bissau.
“It is not expected that the game will be smooth for 90 minutes. Our major concern is conversion. We have worked on that and we hope to see improvements.”
Eguavoen stated that despite securing qualification for the round of 16, the Eagles will go for the win.
“Third game in the group, we will not take our foot off the pedal. We’ve always respected all our opponents we keep respecting them. We are going to approach this game with the same enthusiasm as the previous two games.
“Some countries tend to raise their game when they face Nigeria. We will be ready on Wednesday.”
And after missing the team’s opening two games due to illness and injury, Chidozie Awaziem resumed training with his teammates on Tuesday.
And Eguavoen said there is the possibility he will feature on Wednesday.
“Awaziem was sick and had issue with his ankle, it’s a bit difficult but we will see if he will be part of the team tomorrow.
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COMMENTS
You’re doing well sir. Good luck to the team
i thought it was rohr formation that prevented the world best strikers we have from from scoring, oh the problem is still there. i thought the moment nwakali the best midfielder that is better than mikel and all our midfielders combine together that can take ball from defence to attack comes in the goals problem will be solved for now for all. i thought the moment sadiq comes in, eguevoen will bring in players that will be crossing in for him to sit in the opponent 18 yard box and just being doing the score, what of awoniyi. so they still have to depend on rohr players to succed, no wonder some persons have gone deaf and dumb at the same time
Douglas, your reference to Rohr in a manner you do is, to say the least, very frustrating and misdirected. There are players that are in this team currently because players like Ighalo, Onuachu, Osimhen and Lookman were not available. Under normal circumstances, Awoniyi, Nwakeli, Umar, wouldn’t have a chance in the world to come near the National team. Douglas, move away from Rohr now, He actually moved us back ward, if l may add. are you not happy that every News Media in the World is now seriously considering Nigeria to be in contention to win the AFCON for the fourth time? It took me time to figure out if you were a Nigerian when l saw your post. Rohr is now history.
Edoman thanks a lot join!
Where were you when some persons were fasting and praying for super eagles to lose, you traveled when the coach was called kinds of names, they claim he was sacked becos he was not playing attractive football, some persons here never congratulated the eagles if they win but can roll out their drums if they draw or win, some even claim it was players individual talent and the team lack playing pattern. Has all this problem be solved, you want me to be silent. Karma will play is part soon. Eguavoen will soon have his own share, it will not be long
I can’t still figure out your mindset. However, Douglas, for your own sanity, move on. Many folks, including myself, were extremely critical at first but, most Nigerians have since agreed that it worth the effort of sacking that white guy because ‘our own’ have come on top. Forget Rohr. He is history. We are where we are. Rohr has since moved on after he collected his huge sum of 2million USD. Rohr was hired and he was fired. Stop crying over spilled milk. Man up.
I always hear the maxim: winners never quit. But in this case, it is losers never give up. Continue fonting for Rohr when his replacement is making tremendous progress. Mumu Douglas
Mr Douglas, it does appear you have a sentimental attachment to Gernot Rohr. In fact, let me put it to you that you are sentimentally attached to him, and that your comments here are merely sentimental in nature. Please, go cure your self before any further comment on this platform.
Who is still talking of Rohr in this era of fresh air. He assemble very good players, very very good, indeed. But unfortunately, didn’t know how to use the players. He was addicted to using wrong tactics and formations, and deploying our players out of position. He converted Moses Simon to a defender. Ola Aina was condemned to the left back even when he is a natural right back. Rohr never attempted to featured Chigozie Awaziem as a central defender even when that is his right/natural position etc etc. Does it surprise you that Moses Simon is currently doing so well in Cameroon? This is because Austin Eguavoen has taken the right decision in returning him to his preferred position as a forward and winger. Please, don’t delay, cure yourself of your attachment to Rohr. It is not good for you and your health.
@Edoman , I am with you on your apt and brilliant to responses @Dougla John Ufoma but the only problem I have with you is you are too sentimental with your tribal people; I have been observing all your comments in support of Eguafon and also Igahalo who are both your tribes, which clearly exposed you that your strong support for Eguafon goes beyond his great performances with SE so far that would have been an insult to compare his technical tactics and game reading ability plus player selection to that of clueless Rohr that was all full of silly excuses in his entire almost 6 years directionless in handling SE ;
if it is not excuse of my players are too young (for a team that have old and veterans players in his team like Igahalo, Musa, Balogun, Ekong, Victor Moses etc , and as if those called young players were forced on ) ; the next silly alibi was always bad pitch , yet in 2019 Afcon, he was well tutored by Algerian local coach Belmadi in the best pitch in this world, and in another best pitch in the world, the same clueless Rohr was once again tutored last year in one of the best pitch in this world, also in the same bad pitch Osimeh can not stopped to score goals ) ; in another silly alibi Rohr would blame absence of Osimeh ( now Eguafon is achieving great results 4 goals in two matches, 2 wins in 2 games to make nonesense of Rohr silly alibi of not winning a single match in entire year ); in another silly alibi he would demoralized his team by writing off his players ahead of every important games , with awkward alibi as “ we don’t have players playing in LiV , Bacca , ManU , ManCity
, Chelsea ( Now Eguafon have been proven his silly excuses wrong , playing same players to their strength with sounds tactics, mass attack, mass defence with scintillating football we never witnessed in the 6 years running of Belmadi’s trainee) ;
The current performances of minors standing on their own against big team in the ongoing, has proved Rohr wrong ; the same Algerian local Coach Belmadi that tutored Rohr in 2019 , with Rohr not improving himself as he was schooled again 3 years after -2021 ; yet a minor team Coach sturdy team Belmadi and broke his 35 games unbeaten records ( this is what our so called Oyinbo coach Rohr could not achieve in 4 years, not even a draw with Belmadi’s Algerian team).
Lastly @ Edoman ; you will help yourself by desisting from being sentimental and blind support for your tribal sentiment ( the retired Igahalo that was totally flopped in his only game for SE , with Zero goal , Zero assist, zero contribution, and missing the 3 begging chances that came his way before his shameless clueless Rohr embarrassingly yanked him off in the 2nd half , with yet another silly excuse, that his been flopped was his 2 years retirement from the team )
you will please do yourself good if you borrow a leave from the unbiased forum members like @Mr Hursh @Larry, @ Chima E Samuels @ JimmyBall, @Omo9ja @ Muhammed and other great minds and stop advocating for a retired flopped Igahalo while simultaneously saying Taiwo Awoniyi shouldn’t come near SE.
Compare the contributions and work rate of Taiwo Awoniyi games with the flopped Igahalo; compare their ages and league they both played ( you should rather warn your fellow Edo man Eguafon to allow his fellow Edo boy Igahalo to continue to enjoy his Sunday-Sunday Saudi football and the oil money ; Igahalo don’t have to be in SE to support Eguafon to succeed; let him support Eguafon with money he can afford because we know how NFF do treat Local coaches with unpaid salary and bad conditions of services).
Please, it shouldn’t be Taiwo Awoniyi that shouldn’t have come near SE , rather it your fellow Edo Man retired Igahalo that shouldn’t come near SE , he has nothing to offer SE again, having served meritoriously to his ability in the past ; he should go and enjoy his retirement and Saudi sunday sunday games
@DeSTAR, we know your problem and it hasn’t anything to do with Awoniyi, though you are masking it to look so… It is obvious you’re protecting Iheanacho’s position but the fact still remains that Odion’s presence will still keep Iheanacho on the bench anyday. It is all because he is more prolific in front of goal which is actually the work of a good striker. Iheanacho isn’t all that a poor striker but he needs to work on his confidence and seize the AFCON opportunity to prove himself, he hasn’t been able to do that. Just imagine if Odion was to be in Cameroon, he isn’t even there now so Iheanacho should be free to express himself and not get scared. This is the concern of everyone.
Our allegiances should be to SE and not Coach ; Eguafon is doing a great job now while we pray for his success; as a matter of fact, the only positive from Amaju Fraud-Pinick is given us Eguafon going by his great performance in clear departures from the era of the erstwhile Rohr .
We will continue to support Eguafon and pray for his success ; if he mess up, we will also criticize him because we are not loyally blind to any Coach but SE , particularly our own that is doing what the so called white Coach can not do
DeStar with your blind support for awoniyi you’ve also exposed yourself as a tribal bigot
@DeSTAR, great contribution as usual. No player should be made to believe that he is indispensable. This team is without about 4 of his regulars, specifically its top defender and top striker yet they are balling.
The high pressing and integrated approach being deployed by Cerezo can only be translated into success by fast, creative and highly technical forwards. The manner the backline of Egypt got bullied and goal scored by Simon exemplifies the relevance of Awoniyi in that team.
Awoniyi has scored a goal,and created numerous chances in three matches. The team has won the 2 matches that he has started.
Sadiq could have scored at least a goal if Ejuke had passed the ball to him. Sadiq, Olayinka and Awo are new in the team and i strongly believe they will come good for SE.
How many open goals did Ighalo or Osimhen score in their first 3 matches ?
I strongly believe that the first eleven that prosecuted the two matches will get the job done. Samu needs to raise his game, otherwise Iwobi should be considered.
The inclusion of Osimhen, VM, Balo, Akpo, Amoo, Desser, Dennis, Lookman, Olise (I hope we get him), and Adeleye to this team will really fortify and raise the level of the team to World Class..
A quick look at the Comoros team shows that 85% of that team was born and plays in France…. as more African countries invite their foreign born players expect the qualifiers and African tournaments to become harder and this is the reason we have to employ all our resources home and abroad toi if they have the talent. Equitorial Guinea has 75% spanish born players, Senegal has like 60%, Morocco has a mixture if dutch and Spanish born almost 90% of their squad….Football in Africa has evolved with the Fifa rules on eligibility for national teams.