 |
| Augustine Eguavoen |
Interim coach of the Super Eagles, Augustine Eguavoen, expressed confidence in his team’s ability to defeat any opponent, citing the high quality of players in the squad.
Eguavoen made this statement following the Super Eagles’ impressive 4-0 victory over the Cheetahs of Benin Republic in the 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) match held at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, on Saturday.
“We have the talent to beat any team, though we respect all our opponents. Any coach could achieve similar results with the Super Eagles,” Eguavoen remarked.
He emphasized that success is a matter of mindset, preparation, and understanding the opponent. “It’s about having the right mindset, recognizing our potential, and using the information we have about our opponents to execute our game plan,” he added.
Eguavoen credited the victory to the tactical formation chosen by the coaching staff, noting that the team can adapt to various systems to ensure success. “We can choose any formation. It’s something we discussed and I thought about it overnight. With the caliber of players we have, we can play any system,” he explained.
“Football is about winning, losing, and drawing. I don’t believe we have poor results,” he stated.
He also mentioned that the previous coach did not achieve the desired results, but emphasized the importance of belief, goals, and determination. “As a group, we are united in our vision and goals. We will definitely achieve them,” Eguavoen said.
He praised the defense for their superb performance, highlighting that the team had been training together for a week.
The coach explained that having six players warm up for the second half was a strategic move to manage time, and there was no rush to make substitutions. He acknowledged that the Cheetahs of Benin Republic were a strong team with a solid game plan.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Eguavoen was appointed as interim coach after the deal between the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and coach Bruno Labbadia fell through due to stringent German tax regulations.
Source News
