Former Nigeria international, Mutiu Adepoju, has stated that there is nothing wrong with interim Super Eagles Interim Coach Austine Eguavoen extending invitations to in-form players for the senior national team in the middle of qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Completesports.com reports.
The Super Eagles recently lost 2-1 to Rwanda in their final 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo. The defeat, which came after Eguavoen made several changes to the squad, marked his first loss since taking over the team during the qualifying campaign.
With the successful conclusion of the AFCON 2025 qualifying campaign, the Super Eagles A team now turn their focus to the 2026 World Cup African qualifying Group C fixtures. They will face Rwanda away and Zimbabwe at home in March 2025.
Read Also: Onumonu Makes History In France Vs Super Falcons Friendly Game
Nigeria currently sit precariously in fifth position in the six-team Group C, with three points from four matches. They trail group leaders Rwanda (7 points), second-placed South Africa, third-placed Benin Republic (both also on 7 points), and Lesotho in fourth position with five points.
With calls for the inclusion of in-form players ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Adepoju, a onetime Racing Santander and Real Sociedad midfielder fondly hailed as the ‘Headmaster’ during his playing days, told Completesports.com that bringing in players excelling at their clubs could strengthen the team for the remainder 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
“I think players who are in-form and performing well at their clubs should be invited,” Adepoju said.
“Yes, there are players who have been with the team and have blended well, but the current performances of other players should also be considered.
“If players are doing very well at their clubs, I see no reason why they shouldn’t be called up to the Super Eagles.
“You see, mentioning names isn’t my way. However, if someone like Arokodare [Tolu Arokodare of KRC Genk] is performing well at his club and the coaches notice him, he could be invited to blend with the team’s formations and philosophy.
“I just believe that players who are performing well and are in good form should be given a chance,” Adepoju concluded.
By Austine Akhilomen
13 Comments
mutiu you are a useless ex international you ppl knows that eguavoen is not capable of handling the team. u ex international re so foolish
You sounded so uncouth employing such words mostly now that we are on the social media. To the topic, the truth is that Eguaveon going by current form, knowledge, understanding of the team and with the accord he’s struck with his players, he’s about the manager for the team. This is a coach with vast knowledge of the game and with an uncanny readiness to serve the country at any given time. He had to prepare the Eagles within 3weeks when he was announced the interim Head Coach. Despite the challenges, he qualified the team for Afcon with games to spare. Yes, the sentiment is understood that our team B lost to Rwanda on home soil, but it’s also pertinent to note that the said match was inconsequential, there’s nothing useful about it, though this words have been variously used. The NFF should appoint him on permanent basis say 2years with conditions,
provide him with the necessary resources is the way forward, for the sake of cohesion and the need to improve on any perceived lapses. The thought of bringing im a totally new person to the current setup, is defeatist, and every management must ensure there’s work in progress.
Odionose Igbin, how far bros? how market, it is I Arare Kumbie which is greeting you brodaly. The man frank is a uncooked man, he is still raw meat. Thank you
Human beings dey talk, multiple identity scumbag too wan chook mouth.
Shut your big head up, boy!
You go insult me taya for this CSN ooo.
Omo wase, o ri ise!
Sebi you dey find work? You don see work!
I don give you take home assignment. If you ever stop insulting me or others, you are a big fool!
What exactly is so uncouth about his utterances?. As a former player, he should know better than most people. Iheanacho is out of form and hasn’t played regularly for a while and yet, Eguavoen called him. Sadiq Adulahi who hasn’t started lately was called and he took the place of a player who’s in form. Iwobi has not been able to fill the shoes of JJ the wizard and the attack has suffered with Osimhen receiving few passes Ifeanyi Mathews of FC Zurich is a good replacement for Okocha. What for the life of me are Simon Moses and my boy, Chukwueze doing on the bench?. We hardly shoot from outside the box and no pattern to our corner kicks. We need big boned men like Ekong in the defence as we had in Keshi’s time. The fact that our second team lost to Rwanda suggests that we don’t have a bench. Eguavoen will not qualify us for the world cup. Give the job to Siasia or an expatriate. As technical director, Egu knows the team well. Not having time is just an excuse.
Don’t let us be decieving ourselves on Equaveon.
Equaveon has been given enough chances as a national team coaches in different capacity.
1. WHAT HIS ACHIEVEMENT?
2. WHAT QUALITY OF PLAY HAS HE OFFERED TO THE TEAM?
3. SINCE WHEN EQUAVEON HAS BEEN COACHING, CAN ANYONE MENTION WHICH NEW KEY PLAYERS HAS HE SOURCED/SCOUT/BROUGHT TO ANY NIGERIA TEAM & STILL BE RELEVANT FOR FUTURE FOOTBALL??????
The answer is CAPITAL NO !!!!!!!!
(Because when Equaveon was U-17 Coach, the set of players like Mikel, promise, Obasi, Ezekiel-Bala was all detected by coach GANIYU-SALAMI NOT Equaveon)
FOR INSTANCE:
*** WHEN SIASIA WAS A COACH OF U-20, U-23,& SUPER EAGLE, HE SOURCED FOR SO MANY PLAYERS FOR NIGERIA TEAM LIKE: AKPEI, TAYE-TAIWO, ADEFEMI, NSOFOR, ADELEYE, KAITA, CHIBUZOR-OKONKWO, AJILORE, SHEHU-ABUBAKAR, ETEBO, JOEL-OBI, EMENIKE, V.MOSES. AND MOST OF THIS PLAYERS MENTIONED ABOVE, ARE ALL RELEVANT FOR MORE THAN FIVE YEARS FUTURE FOOTBALL.
(BUT PLAYERS LIKE MIKEL, PROMISE, OBASI, EFE, EZENWA, HARUNA-LUKMAN, RABIU-IBRAHIM ARE SOURCED BY GANIYU-SALAMI, LADAN-BOSSO, YEMI-TELLA)
*** LIKEWISE ALSO, WHEN KESHI WAS A SUPER EAGLES COACH, HE SOURCED FOR PLAYERS LIKE: AGBIM, OBOABONA, EGWEKWE, STANLEY-EZOENYI, OSHANIWA, SUNDAY-MBA. ALTHOUGH, MOST OF THIS PLAYERS DIDN’T RELEVANT MORE THAN TWO YEARS FUTURE FOOTBALL.
###$ EQUAVEON CAN NEVER BOAST OF ONE PLAYERS HE HAS PRODUCE FOR ANY NIGERIA TEAM AND STILL FUNCTION/RELEVANT FOR MORE THAN ONE YEAR FOR FUTURE FOOTBALL
### EQUAVEON ALWAYS RELY ON ALREADY-MADE PLAYERS.
He is not a useless man he is living a comfortable life with his family.
lmao… I know you will soon be typing ya tribalism, names of mine people inside Nigeria. Oya, research am we dey wait.
Sorry, is meant for Ranti G.
Mutiu is spot on! Now let me research on this and offer the coaching crew some tips/suggestions. I will be right back.
Yes frank you are wrong and no stan you are light, but what of arare kumbie? Is she wright or long? Please ask Obiakopolor. Thanks
What exactly is so uncouth about his utterances?. As a former player, he should know better than most people. Iheanacho is out of form and hasn’t played regularly for a while and yet, Eguavoen called him. Sadiq Adulahi who hasn’t started lately was called and he took the place of a player who’s in form. Iwobi has not been able to fill the shoes of JJ the wizard and the attack has suffered with Osimhen receiving few passes Ifeanyi Mathews of FC Zurich is a good replacement for Okocha. What for the life of me are Simon Moses and my boy, Chukwueze doing on the bench?. We hardly shoot from outside the box and no pattern to our corner kicks. We need big boned men like Ekong in the defence as we had in Keshi’s time. The fact that our second team lost to Rwanda suggests that we don’t have a bench. Eguavoen will not qualify us for the world cup. Give the job to Siasia or an expatriate. As technical director, Egu knows the team well. Not having time is just an excuse.
@Rufus A Orindare
Ok na, no shaking, remember that I Segun West not Best said so.
If this is your new name, then please don’t forget to inform Pompei because he is counting.