Sports
AFCON: Eguavoen Promises Changes Ahead Of Guinea Bissau Clash
Super Eagles interim coach Augustine Eguavoen has assured of his players’ total commitment as they file out against Guinea-Bissau on Wednesday in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon. The Eagles coach has also promised a little changes in the team line-up to sharpen the capacity of fringe players having qualified for the next round.
Eguavoen gave the assurance on Tuesday in Garoua, Cameroon at a press conference ahead of the team’s last Group D match.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Eagles currently top Group D with six points from two games, having beaten Egypt and Sudan.
Struggling Guinea-Bissau have just one point from their draw with Sudan and 0-1 loss to Egypt.
Eguavoen said that despite qualification, the aim of the team was to finish with nine points like the Eagles did in the 2006 AFCON in Egypt, when he was incidentally in charge.
“There is always pressure, finishing with nine points will be very good; we did that in 2006 and with this group that we have, we are ready to do that again.
“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 said.
Eguavoen said with AFCON qualification in the bag, the technical crew would bring some changes in the game against Guinea Bissau to give more fringe players game time.
” It is always good to qualify, we have done that with style; expect few changes tomorrow (Wednesday), everyone have come to play. We will make one or two changes,” he said.
On the controversy whether to employ a local or foreign coach for the Super Eagles going forward, he said the focus should not be on the skin colour of the coach but the team’s style of play.
“This question has come many, many times but I’m very happy with the position I occupy with the Nigeria Football Federation and yes, if they give me the job, why not.
“If they asked me for it, yes and when we get to that river we will cross,” he said.
Earlier, Super Eagles vice captain, William Trost-Ekong, said the team would still approach the game with the same zeal it prosecuted the first two matches.
“We are approaching the game as the first two, we have enjoyed Garoua, the team will work hard, this is an opportunity to test ourselves and play a good game,” he said.
NAN reports that the Nigeria/Guinea-Bissau match is billed to take place at the Stade Roumdé Adjia, Garoua, Cameroon on Wednesday by 8 p.m.
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