Super Eagles Head Coach, Augustine ‘Cerezo’ Eguavoen, has expressed confidence in his team’s readiness to win Monday’s ‘dead rubber’ game against Rwanda’s Amavubi in the final Group D match of the 2025 AFCON qualifiers at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium Uyo, Completesports.com reports.
The former national team captain shared his thoughts during Sunday evening’s pre-match press conference at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, assuring that his players, being seasoned professionals, know how to handle such games effectively.
With Nigeria’s qualification for the Morocco 2025 AFCON already secured, Eguavoen addressed concerns about maintaining focus and discipline against a Rwandan side desperate for an upset.
“Our boys are 100% professionals, and they know what it takes to win games. They won’t blink for a minute. The same approach we’d use against Brazil or Argentina is the same we’ll use against Rwanda,” Eguavoen stated confidently.
Eguavoen emphasised the Super Eagles’ hunger for victory, despite the game being inconsequential to qualification. He highlighted the depth of the squad, noting that 23 capable players are available for selection, even though two have returned to their clubs.
Eguavoen clarified the absence of Ademola Lookman and Ola Aina. He revealed that Lookman was released after reporting a slight injury that limited his capacity to play at 100%, while Nottingham Forest requested Aina’s release which was granted in order to maintain a good relationship with the club.
On Gabriel Osho’s substitution during the Benin Republic match, Eguavoen explained it was a tactical adjustment unrelated to the player’s performance.
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“We needed to switch from a back-three to a back-four, and I explained this to Osho, who understood,” he remarked.
Eguavoen dismissed criticisms about Nigeria’s away form in the qualifiers. “We didn’t lose any away games. Football has evolved, and teams now prepare well against Nigeria. Earning points away deserves credit,” he said.
Finally, Eguavoen dedicated the 2025 AFCON ticket to all Nigerians and declined to confirm Moses Simon’s inclusion in the matchday squad.
“Simon brings energy, pace, and intelligence to the team. We’ll decide tomorrow,” he concluded.
By Sab Osuji, in Uyo
10 Comments
“Eguavoen dismissed criticisms about Nigeria’s away form in the qualifiers. “We didn’t lose any away games. Football has evolved, and teams now prepare well against Nigeria. Earning points away deserves credit,” he said.”
If you can’t win away from home, then you don’t deserve to lead the team.
BASED ON AWAY MATCHES, HERE IS THE REALITY IN AFCQ
Group A
Comoros won drawn 1 (won in Tunis)
Tunisia won 2
Group B
Morocco 100%, 10 away goals
Group C
Egypt won 2 drawn 1 6 away goals
Group E
Algeria won 2 drawn 1
Group F
Angola won 2 away from home
GroupH
Cong DR won 2
Group I
Mali won 2 drawn 1
Grpup K
South Africa won 2 drawn 1
Group L
Senegal won all 3 away (100%)
Going by Eguavoen’s experience as a player who played for the national team and a coach, he has the capacity to manage the Super Eagles Eve better than the so-called foreign coach. Besides, Eguaveon has consistently proven that.
I think it is good Eguavoen should continue to manage our national team, this is however dependant on the NFF who might end up appointing some novice in the name of appointing an expatriate.
Egu is the coach marrying expatriate Rohr till date and still mumuzies are bent on false narrative.
Nice. Eagles have THREE MUST WIN AWAY WC QUALIFIERS MATCHES next year. Nine points or miss out on USA-Canada 2026 and the coach is blabbing nonsense. After CAF induced 3 points against Libya and 2 points off ordinary Benin Republic and Rwanda (our world cup opponents) and some persons are vouching for him. I dey laugh. We are not yet serious
Anyway, I can’t put it past Eagles to play 6 more draws in the qualifiers. We already have 4 draws. After all, we will not have “lost” a game
*Comoros won 2, drawn 1
Eguavoen is dishonest, technically bereft, and unfit to lead the crop of stars in the national team.
The main problem with this guy is that he thinks everyone is gullible like him..
** i invited players i had worked with in the past was the reason he gave for snubbing leading strikers in Europe for zero goal strikers in Europe.
But he had not worked with Boni, Alhassan, Onyedika, and others before inviting them.
Bro stop wasting your time on Eguavon and his hardcore supporters, much of these guys are uncivilized, still wired on sentiment, tribalism and mediocrity in player selection, just like the old foolish Ogogoro drinker finidi. A coach inviting Iheanacho should never be taking serious at all. Let’s maybe he would Dele tomorrow or bench him again.
Austin Eguaveon is the biggest conman in the history of football… period! What must Chuba Akpom do to be invited to his fatherland just to wear our colours? A dude who has shown his proficiency in goalscoring… Gernot Rohr ignored him, Peseiro ignored him, Finidi ignored him now Eguadiola is ignoring him again… Chuba Akpom has survived two full season wearing the colours of Ajax Amsterdam… a club that is quick to find out players with suspect talent… they get you out the moment the discover your talent level is overhyped… Ajax Amsterdam will not cinsider 97% of current Super Eagles players worthy of wearing their colours…
Make we go drive Egu away appoint amumuneki? Lolo
But we are the one appointing the coaches. And to clear all.doubt since some of you are still doubting, finidi was a placeholder, mote like some people’s plan Dee. Well, all that is history now. The Super Eagles new coach must now continue to win games to enable us speak in his stead.
*more liHenryke