Interim Super Eagles boss Austin Eguavoen has acknowledged the difficulties of integrating new players into the squad due to the limited preparation time ahead of key fixtures.
Eguavoen faced significant criticism from Nigerian football fans for selecting out-of-form strikers Kelechi Iheanacho and Sadiq Umar for the 2025 AFCON qualifiers against Benin and Rwanda, despite the impressive goal-scoring form of other Nigerian forwards across Europe this season.
Iheanacho, who was given a starting role in the match against Benin, delivered a lackluster performance and was substituted at halftime.
Meanwhile, Sadiq, who arrived at the Super Eagles camp just a day before the game, sparked frustration among fans due to his late arrival.
With only a few days to prepare, the Nigerian coach stressed the importance of working with familiar faces to ensure readiness for upcoming matches.
Eguavoen addresses criticism over striker selections amid tight preparation time
Eguavoen has responded to the backlash surrounding his striker selections, explaining the challenges posed by limited preparation time.
Speaking to Eagle7fm Sports Radio, he highlighted the difficulty of integrating new players ahead of crucial matches.
“I have had to stick with the players I know, it will be difficult to play those I have not worked with previously because of the short time to prepare for these matches. We have had only three, four days for these matches, so the time is not there (to look closer at new players),” he said.
He further acknowledged the tight scheduling, saying, “Time is my biggest challenge because the calendar is so choked. I want to improve our large pool of players, so that we could have capable replacements.”
Eguavoen concluded by urging patience from fans, noting, “We should be patient. When we have friendlies, we will try to bring some new players and work with them. I know Nigerians love this game so much, but sometimes we’re not patient.”
