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INTERVIEW: Eguavoen Talks Up Super Eagles 2021 AFCON Title Chances, Friendlies, Group Opponents

INTERVIEW: Eguavoen Talks Up Super Eagles 2021 AFCON Title Chances, Friendlies, Group Opponents

In this interview on NFF TV published on YouTube, Super Eagles interim coach Austin Eguavoen, discussed his team’s chances of winning next month’s AFCON.

Eguavoen also talked about the possibility of Eagles playing friendly games before the tournament, strength of their group opponents and going back to wing play.

Congratulations on your appointment as the Super Eagles Coach, how did you take the news?

It’s surprising and a shock to me but it is something I can’t say no to, I’m around and it’s something we have to do.

The shortness of the time is something a lot of people have talked about. Do you think there will be enough time to have a team that will be ready to compete?

There is a team on the ground, this team is ready to compete any time any day when called upon. And yes the time is quite short we all know that but every coach has his own leadership style, his own philosophy. And with the quality of players we have I don’t think we will struggle but the only thing is there won’t be time for any friendlies because that’s when you actually assess your team if they can actually do what the technical crew want. So if there was time to play at least two or three friendly games you can tell them how to operate in departments individually and collectively and in lines then we can say yes. But as it is we just have to do what we have to do and in training sessions we can tell them how we want them to play and guide them.

Are you categorically saying there won’t be any warm games before your first game against Egypt?

There would be but it won’t be as competitive as we want it because you don’t want to play the strongest team right now and when I say strong team I mean that can bully you and you have to be aware of injuries as well. If there was that time where you have FIFA windows you can go for it 100 per cent regardless because you know you still have time before the tournament. But the tournament starts January 9th, I’m not saying there won’t be friendly games but it would be a very casual one.

Knowing the team as technical director and also the man in charge, what do you think are the prospect, do you trust that the players have what it takes to go and win the tournament?

The team has what it takes to go all the way but we have to take it game after game.

Have you also been thinking about your opponents especially Egypt who have players from Al Ahly who featured at the FIFA Arab Cup then Sudan and Guinea-Bissau?

Yes, we have to do that because Egypt seven times winners is a team I’ve played against I have coached against them at junior level. We know what they can bring to the table, not a pushover team. Mind you every team that qualify for the AFCON is not a pushover and we are going to do everything possible to see how we can analyse them individually and collectively and map out the strategy. And that’s what we should expect them to do as well because Nigeria is a big name, big country in terms of football and other teams would also be planning. We are doing that and we will continue to that until we find solutions on how we can take care of them.

Also Read: Iheanacho: Leicester City Will Be Ready For Liverpool Test

A lot of people know your philosophy looking at the the 2006 AFCON and the 2006 World Cup qualifiers. Have you evolved in your coaching style and do you think you are better now?

I would say I’m better because I have watched coaches I have watched games and we all learn every day. And the thing now is your opponent and how you set up your team so different approach against Egypt, Sudan and Guinea-Bissau as well, but when the time comes you would see all of that. Mind you it’s not a one-man show there are people around me so we have to sit down and talk through and come up with decisions and of course I have the final say and when the time comes we will see.

A couple of your players are injured and you have the task of selecting your final squad. How tough has this been?

It has been tough. Since I got the news (of the Super Eagles job) I don’t sleep well because of expectations but I know there are people who want us to succeed and there are those also in doubt. But we will do everything humanly possible, stick together and do all we can and make sure we put smiles in the faces of Nigerians. But having said that, AFCON is not a small tournament, it is a major tournament and Nigeria is ranked very high when it comes to football so expectations are high. I think what we have on the ground and the support of everyone I think we will do well.

A lot of critics believe the Eagles should go back to the wing style of play, are we going to see that under you?

For you to get on the field and have your formation right you must have the personnel as well. When you talk about wing play like what people are clamouring for, yes why not? That’s what has been our tradition but when you don’t have the Finidis, the Amunekes, the Elahos, the Odegbamis how do you achieve that? But we have to be flexible as well. We have Samuel Chukwueze, we have Moses Simon, going forward we can be explosive but what about defending? We are talking about wing players offensively but they have to do defensive job as well. That’s not to say we have to rule that out completely but be flexible in the style of play as well. If you adopt a 4-4-2 and then your opponent are able to counter you what do you do? You have to find other ways and it depends on who you play with, probably your opponent the way they set up that’s what you react to.

Have you been talking with your players and what are their responses and their reactions to you being in charge now?

They are quite happy about it, it’s not easy we all know that because Gernot Rohr has been here for a while and he has played that fatherly role. He is a  nice man but parting ways won’t be that easy but everybody has got a job to do and your career and family to look after so they have to put that behind them as quickly as possible and move on. But no love lost, everybody is close to Rohr and we remain friends forever.

And your take on the issue of European clubs not wanting to release players for AFCON, does that bother you?

Yes of course, everyone should be bothered because there is a list out there and if you don’t release the majority how do you put a team together. I remember in 2011 just before the Olympic games London 2012, we won all the games, blowing teams up 5-1 like that and 95 per cent of the players were from Europe, players like Nosa Igiebor, Nnamdi Oduamadi. But when it was time to go to Morocco (for the U-23 AFCON)  out of the players who featured during the qualifiers for the U-23 AFCON, I only got like five of them, so it was a problem. So if European clubs are now saying we can’t release it will be a problem and to put another team together at this time would be tough.


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COMMENTS

WORDPRESS: 41
  • Pius Obemhen 2 years ago

    Everything has to be hastily put together, that’s how it is. God will see you through, Coach Eguavoen. God luck SE!

    • Dennis 2 years ago

      Nigeria is joke of a country. See what Nff is causing us. Instead of making this guy a full fledge coach so that he can settle down regardless of the little time at his disposal, they want to discuss with Peseiro, with Mourinho. Ethiopia, I don’t want to be immodest by calling it common, has a local coach and they are already in Cameroon preparing. Eguavoen, do your best and leave the rest to God.

  • Umanna Bassey 2 years ago

    You don’t have to be silly. It was only an interview, make your contributions and simply read the thread.

    • ZiAha 2 years ago

      You have time to tend a mad goat. Ask me what is responsible for his stupidity.

      • Harlyis 2 years ago

        It’s not difficult to know someone who is not properly brought up.

    • DA Fetuga 2 years ago

      Mr Bassey,thats uncalled for,you accusing somebody that just came into the fold of bribery.the player he included ,is a player a lot fans had been clamoring for.That’s the coaches job and not your job,can you do better than him or probably do better in your area of specialty. You rather go make a difference in area of field.

  • Umanna Bassey 2 years ago

    Well said Coach. Will the camp still be opened tomorrow?

  • ZiAha 2 years ago

    Coach it is clear you have a limited time but which team are we playing for the friendlies?

  • He was just careful not to give away his match plan. I really like it when he said the Eagles would take the games one step at a time. He even acknowledged his team of assistance. God bless Nigeria!

  • Gabriel Iwaloba 2 years ago

    Very right. We don’t respect our own.

  • Omo9ja 2 years ago

    The purpose of sacking Oga Rohr is simply simple. The gaffer keep recycling players and the team had no direction and improvement almost six years of his services.

    However, if Oga Rohr made mistakes in his selections must Eguavoen follow his steps? Why Akpeyi, John Noble and Shehu?

    Hmm. We can not like our “own” like politicians loves corruption in Nigeria.

    Although, Amaju and his company are in charge of the Super Eagles wether we like it or not but Mr. No nonsense should have protected his name from NFF.

    Oga Rohr followers and NFF doesn’t want our “own” in charge of the Super Eagles and if Mr. No nonsense fail to impress in Cameroon, they will come out in numbers to kick out our “own” that is trap for our “own”

    Nobody is talking about Aigbogun, Agu and Salisu Yusuf now but we are all focusing on Mr. Eguavoen. And if we are not satisfied with the Afcon list, I think it is our responsibility to ask the gaffer and NFF the reason why we are not seeing our best players on the list.

    More so, we brought Eguavoen in to strengthen the team and bring hope and success in the team but our oppressors have hijacking the selections of the list of the players from the gaffer.

    Nevertheless, you CSN is part of the Super Eagles problem. Can’t you get in touch with coach Eguavoen? CSN should do an interview with the coach haba.

    Ask him the questions we fans are complaining on this platform.

    It is not too late to do so since the team will be camping in Abuja before heading to Cameroon.

    Here are the questions Nigerians are trying to ask from Mr. No nonsense. Why Dessers, Ebuehi, Akpoguma and Adeleye were not part of the Afcon squad.

    If truly CSN want Nigeria to move forward and not part of the Nigeria problem, we just want to know the reasons behind the list that’s all. We can not just fold our hands and ignoring the truth just like that.

    I love our “own” to be there not just because they are our “own” but we have to hold them accountable for their actions so that they can act responsibly.

    The era of Oga Rohr is gone for good and we don’t want such scenarios to occur in our football for again. So, do the interview with Mr. No nonsense on behalf of we Nigerians. Transparency is needed in that team from now on. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!

  • Presh 2 years ago

    i highlighted his words the time is quite short, time is short most of you lots who don’t know ball, made sure Rohr was sacked, when he knows the boys well, no time isn’t short, good and win. story. Only in that country they will sack a staff weeks to a crucial thing. And to those wishing the coach goodluck, you all will see what will happen, the end result. Nff said they wanted Jose’s assistant, who is Amaju, he never contacted no one.

    • Mirah 2 years ago

      I wish you what you wish Eguavon’s team in multiple folds

  • MONKEY POST 2 years ago

    “because Gernot Rohr has been here for a while and he has played that fatherly role. He is a nice man”

    Out of all the bullshit he was spitting, that was the only truth that came out from his mouth.

    But However, can somebody tell this man the whole truth? Don’t know why y’all keep fooling him… Tell him the truth.. This man can’t do shit! If he had the best team in 2006 but messed it all up. Is it now that he will be able to do shit?

    • Mirah 2 years ago

      Na hatred go finish you if care is not taken.

    • Paulinus 2 years ago

      Tone down guy most especially as you aren’t making sense. This man needs every encouragement to pull through. This is an interim coach who was given few days to a continental showpiece that has big football playing nation’s in Africa as participants. Just two weeks and coupled with the fact that some of his wards might not be released by their clubs till 3rd of January, meaning he has little or no resources to contend with…
      That was one of the issues he had in 2006 when most of his wards weren’t released. Since we are Nigerians, it’s high time we showed it. Camp is opening this morning so let’s see how we could take it from there. As much as possible, be responsible.

      • Dr Banks 2 years ago

        Some of you just come here to write rubbish. You wrote…….”That was one of the issues he had in 2006 when most of his wards weren’t released”. Which player was not released in 2006 where he had the full complements of a bevy of talented players but couldn’t win a single knockout match in regulation time

        You guys should verify your story or comments before posting lies here

        • Paulinus 2 years ago

          You don’t have to be mad about that. I meant to type 2011, I think it was in November of that year. It has to do with the Africa u23.

  • Harry Elliott 2 years ago

    To chip into what Coach Eguavoen said, I would like to believe that his assistants are spying on the training tapes of our opponents to have an understanding on what to expect. Some of them opened camp since last week.

  • Mirah 2 years ago

    Someone said it here some weeks back, it has gotten to point where even if this team under Eguavon wins a match convincingly, some people here will be sad because it’s not what they are anticipating.

    We understand your love for your sacked thin god, we know you’re still pained but you guys gotta move the f*ck on (the sensible ones among you have moved on tho)

    Well, you guys can only wail, it ends here.

    For the ones blaming Eguavon for those fraudulent call ups in the team, I’ll advice you guys to see beyond what you’re seeing. Can’t y’all see the handwriting of NFF boldly written on the wall? Rohr couldn’t keep up (beyond the ones he’s been keeping on with) with NFF evil ways and kicked him out, they installed who they think thy can control 100% so if you see Ndah, Noble etc, don’t blame Eguavon, it takes common sense not to blame him for that.

    Coach Eguavon, you have a lot of work up your sleeves, do your best and whoever not comfortable with any progress you make can go gulp sniper for all we care.

    God will strength you Eguavon, God will strengthen that team of yours.

    #GoEagles

    • Dennis 2 years ago

      Mirah you keep spewing trash. Rohr was sacked to prevent an impeding disaster in the words of amaju. You all said Rohr is incompetent and all what not. A new coach was appointed because it was perceived that he would do better than Rohr, who came third. That’s all what we want

      We want that cup and that’s all

      • Mirah 2 years ago

        @Dennis

        Your aggression should be directed towards NFF who appointed Eguavon, not me or Eguavon brother.

        Everyone wants the cup too.

  • Julius Uko 2 years ago

    I think it was yesterday I told this gathering that we have a good coach and that regardless of time limit, he was going to do his best. the The Nigerian Head Coach has spoken well and I really don’t see any aspect of it that calls for argument. Hopefully, we could see some photos from the SE camp and being able to hear from the players. I think We shall do more to be better Nigerians since our autimate goal is the Afcon gold. Up Super Eagles! God bless Nigeria

  • If ours was a sane country and with a good administration, Eguavoen is by now supposed to be given at least a 4 year contract that would enable him to plan ahead, do the job he is called to do better and all our expectations will be on the high side. With the demour and strides he has taken within the few days as interim coach, it shows he is the right man for the job. But for corrupt practices, all we are told is, a foreigner is better than a local coach. I continue to ask, what has a foreign been able to deliver within one year as Nigeria coach? None. Westerhof spent 5 years before he won Gold. Rohr, in almost 6 years could win only a bronze. The Super Eagles were even ousted in the group stage of Russia 2018. Mr. Eguavoen deserves more than this.

  • @Williams,
    You no get sense oh!

  • @Greg, thanks for your submission at least someone is thinking out of the box.

    If the plan is to move our football forward, Nff should follow the trend in Africa. Many African nation’s are looking inwards, employing their locals as their national team coaches.

    I was at the Yaounde Airport when the Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia arrived. They were led by Coach Wubetu Abate an Ethiopian who has been on the saddle since 2020. Not to mention Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, Sudan etc. And we are the giants of Africa. I am however of the belief that something will be done about it sooner than later.

  • Eguaveon should have improved on himself since 2006 and he should be able to bring something tangible to the table this time around……..My only fear is that most Nigerian coaches don’t strive to learn or upgrade themselves…….Most Nigeria coaches are very rigid and shallow minded and believe they know it all but they know nothing about football……. Most Nigeria coaches don’t utilize modern equipment in physical training of players……Most Nigerian coaches don’t take into consideration the physical fitness part of the game………What they do Is just instruct the players to jog round the field 10 times and divide them into 2 groups to play against each other then next thing select a questionable 11 to play the match…….No technical manover drills……No tactical manover drills…..No set piece drills…..No video analysis drill…..you hardly see any training gears and equipment in their training…..No dummies…..no poles….No GPS player performance monitors…….Nff should look into all this and supply them for Eguaveon…… Football is not Magic or luck like I see Forumites wishing here…….we need to work hard to get it right.

  • Baba Okemute 2 years ago

    https://youtu.be/Ey5KcdrfvaM

    I don’t think color is the issue here but rather complex. More African coaches are needed to take football on the continent to the next level and develop teams capable of challenging for the World Cup. These local Coaches need to be regarded and paid their dues. This I think is where some African Football Federations are missing it. Look at the video above, you could see a detailed format on how to make the game work. Different formations that could be juxetaposed to getting results.

  • MONKEY POST 2 years ago

    Some of you keep talking trash and you think you can’t be traced abi? Don’t worry keep supporting evil and come back without the cup…..

    You know the time is too short and you sack GENERAL ROHR?

    You call a team made up of Dennis, Osimhe, Bigman Sadiq, Ndidi, chukweze, Ejuke etc led by your Mr No Nonsense as little or no resources to execute the job?

    You call camping in a 5 star hotel, Bolton white Hotels (The best after sharaton and transcorp Hilton hotel)in Abuja little or no resources?

    You call going to Cameroon by Air when will could have save so much resources and camped in Uyo then probably go by road or water since there is very close proximity a little or no resources??

    Come on, I thought all you Eguavon followers are smarter than this. Ya better come up with another excuse…

    • RESPECT IS RECIPROCAL 2 years ago

      @monkey . I THINK YOU JUST WANT CHEAP POPULARITY . ROHR IS GONE AND GONE FOR GOOD WHY DO YOU KEEP MENTIONING HIS NAME . THE TASK NOW IS FOR AUSTIN TO PERFORM WELL AT THE NATION CUP. NIGERIA IS A TRIBALIST COUNTRY AND IT WILL BE DIFFICULT FOR A LOCAL COACH TO REALLY EXCEL . WE ARE THE MOST RACIST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD FOR EXAMPLE AS AN INDIGENE OF OYO STATE I CAN NOT WORK IN OSUN STATE UNLESS AT FEDERAL LEVEL,EVEN AT FEDERAL LEVEL IT IS EXPECTED THAT SOME POSITIONS SHOULD BE DIRECTED BY THE LOCAL PEOPLE EVEN WHEN SUCH IS NOT QUALIFIED.
      SO KEEPING A LOCAL COACH TO RUN EAGLES WILL CREATE PANIC AND DIVISION ONLY A NUTRAL PERSON CAN DO THAT WORK.
      SECONDLY NO NIGERIA COACH IS INTELLIGENT ENOUGH TO REALLY BRING FORWARDNESS TO SUPER EAGLES . THEY ALL LACK WHAT IT TAKES UNLESS WE JUST WANT EAGLES TO BE SUPER IN AFRICAN CONTENT NOT AT GLOBAL CONTENT LIKE WHAT WE DID IN USA 94.
      EVEN THE SENEGALESE COACH TO BE IS NOT DOING ANYTHING FANTASTIC WITH THAT CROP OF PLAYERS , I LOOK BEYOND AFRICAN BUT IT SEEMS THE FA IN THAT COUNTRY IS SATISFIED WITH SENEGAL BEATING COUNTRIES IN AFRICAN AND NOT MAKING A PROPER IMPACT AT WORLD FOOTBALL, I TELL YOU ONLY A FEW COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD HAVE THE CALIBRE OF PLAYERS SENEGAL HAS , YET IF THEY QUALIFY FOR WORLD CUP THEY WILL STILL STRUGGLE AND GET BUNDLED OUT AT FIRST ROUND. LET A GOOD EXPATRIATE COACH HANDLE THE SENEGALESE TEAM AND IN ONE YEAR YOU WILL SEE CHANGES BECAUSE I BELEIVE SENEGAL IS IN THE SAME CLASS WITH BELGIUM .
      FOR NOW AM FINE WITH AUSTIN TO TAKE US TO NATION CUP FOR THE TIME IS SHORT BUT I WILL NOT SUPPORT HIM BEING GIVEN A CONTRACT TO MANAGE THE TEAM FOR A LONG TIME. WE SHOULD NOT BE FOOLED OUR LOCAL COACHES ARE NOT ON THE SAME LEVEL WITH OYINBO. FOOTBALL IS INVENTED BY THE OYINBOS SO THEY UNDERSTAND THE GAME BETTER THAN US , AFRICAN ARE JUST LUCKY WE HAVE THE POWER TO PLAY THE GAME IN OUR BLOOD NOT IN OUR BRAIN. THE EQUATION IS BALANCED ,THEY HAVE THE GAME IN THEIR BRAIN AND NOT IN THEIR BLOOD AND WE HAVE THE GAME IN OUR BLOOD NOT IN OUR BRAIN . IMAGINE IF NIGERIA WERE TO BE BRITAIN I CAN NOT TELL OF THE ABUNDANCE OF LAURELS THEY WOULD HAVE WON. FRANCE IS WINNING EVERYTHING BECAUSE OF THE BLACKS IN THEIR MIDST.

    • Dennis 2 years ago

      You have a brain disorder like your bosses Dr Drey and Omo9ja.

  • Baba Okemute 2 years ago

    @ RESPECT IS RECIPROCAL.

    You are even shouting. Okay, what is ‘BRING FORWARDNESS TO SUPER EAGLES’.
    Don’t you think you would do well with some facts? That it is time the NFF appointed a local Coach for the Super Eagles can’t be over emphasised. The truth is, time is now.
    Nigeria had foreign Coaches like Las Lagerback, Berti Vogts, Thijs Libregts, Bora Milutinovic, Philippe Troussier and none could win the Nations cup not even taking us to 2nd round of the World cup.
    At some point, one would expect some form of intelligence from some commenters on this platform.

  • LET US FAIL WITH OUR OWN 2 years ago

    ATTENTION!

    Why we keep waiting to “Fail With Our Own”, lets use this opportunity to draw our attention to the induction of our new members to this great club.
    They are:
    @Golden Child
    @William de Conquerer
    @Respect Is Reciprocal

    Please more members will be announced as the time goes on as authentication and verification of their membership is ongoing. Thank you.

    Sign: Mahmud Shuaibu(Secretary)

    • Kenny 2 years ago

      @Baba Okemute, the commenters can’t compete so they mask it up somehow. Check the forum, they easily get agitated for nothing.

      It is possible the Nigerian football federation members are reading but the best for us as a country is to pull our resources together and get local Coaches to do the job. Pay them as the foreign coaches are and ofcourse give them conditions.

    • Kenny 2 years ago

      Sorry, the above post is for Baba Okemute.

  • ABDULRAZAK 2 years ago

    I like your post. Intelligent and well written. You make your own luck in football just as in every other thing in life. No matter how much talk coach Eguavon does, it wont translate to success without planning and execution.

  • “There is a team on ground and this team is ready is to compete any time any day” thought some idiots said Rohr wasted 6 year even the head of the consortium of world assembled coaches confirmed that, he even acknowledged that most of the players are closer to rohr because of his fatherly role and it will be difficult to convince those guys to let go. I think that is what most of them needs to focus on than all the unnecessary noise and hype that he has started well by only granting interview even if he hasn’t play or conduct a single training match? When I look at the extent some people go on their sentiment I shake my head. Imagine hailing Eguavon who has not even train these boys for a single day since after his appointment as a good things coming simply because he is the man they want to see as the head of the team is very pathetic and laughable. Some Nigerians are funny… Well I wish Eguavon well only if some of you will allow him to do his work. Usual wailers like Omo9ja,All,China have started complaining even before the main competition started one will want to ask what do they really want?

  • HASSAN Tia 2 years ago

    I think Nigeria football lacks rational administration to evolve it; the corupption is overwhelming this administration so that it is affecting tell now results of Supper Eagles; there are bribes by coaches to recall SE players for SE; these conducts led to SE decline on thier standard on African football and backtracking on FIFA monthly ranking. Recalling shaky and substandard players who pay a bribe for the corrupt coaches afects negatively on SE matches results.

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