By Harry Awurumibe, Editor-in-Chief, Abuja
No Tension…Super Eagles Interim Technical Adviser Augustine Owen Eguavoen aka Cerezo says there is no cause for alarm
Less than 48 hours to the crucial FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 African qualifier match first leg tie between Nigeria and Ghana slated for Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi on Friday, Super Eagles Interim Manager, Augustine Owen Eguavoen is optimistic his team will grind out a favourable result when both countries clash.
He also revealed that the team will not feel the absence of some players like Wilfred Ndidi and Maduka Okoye due to injury and sickness, saying every player he invited for the two-legged encounters have a chance to be selected for the two games based on what the technical crew saw in each player.
Coach Eguavoen stated this on Wednesday in Abuja at Super Eagles pre-match press conference at The Wells Carlton Hotel, Asokoro.
According to him: “We are focused on the big games and we are not afraid of our opponents. We have to respect Ghana, they are a good team, no doubt but we are not afraid of them. We will go to Kumasi and get the job done, that is our focus”.
The former Super Eagles captain is unfazed about the hide and seek game Ghana’s Black Stars officials are playing ahead of the crucial first leg match in Kumasi as he said his only concern is how to get a good result away from home to make the return leg in Abuja a mere academic exercise.
Said he: “Ghana is at liberty to play mind games or to release their players list anytime they like. It’s the least of our worries because the list has nothing to do with us”.
Celebration Time.. Super Eagles players celebrating a goal in a previous match.
Speaking further on the “Battle of Kumasi” Eguavoen said: ” A lot is at stake as Nigerians will not accept excuses and we are aware of that hence we are determined to put in our best efforts to qualify Nigeria for the World Cup in Qatar later this year”.
According to him: “there is no point talking too much. We will prefer to do the talking on the pitch. I cannot disclose much to the media, I am keeping our strategy close to our chests”.
Asked if the Super Eagles will not miss the services of defensive midfielder Wilfred Ndidi and firstchoice goalkeeper Maduka Okoye of Sparta Rotterdam, he said there is no cause for concern.
“Ndidi and Maduka are our key members of our team but they are replaceable and we have taken care of that so there is no cause for alarm. Everybody has a chance to play in the team and we have capable replacement. The team is full of good players and we are set”, Eguavoen posited.
Meanwhile. the Nigerian delegation made up of the Super Eagles players, team officials, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Board Members and other football stakeholders will depart the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja by 7 am on Thursday aboard Air Peace chartered flight for Ghana. The Nigerian contingent will fly direct to Kumasi Airport a in Ashanti Region of Ghana which is located just six kilometer to Kumasi city.
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