Desmond Iwuchukwu
Interim Super Eagles Coach, Austin Eguavoen says he will give an opportunity for some of the fringe players in the team to have a test of action at the on-going African Cup of Nation AFCON in Cameroon.
The Super Eagles has already booked a place in the round of 16(knockout) stage of the tournament after beating tournament favourites Egypt and North African neighbours Sudan to pick six maximum points after two matches.
Nigeria defeated Egypt one nil in their first group game while it beat Sudan three one in their second group D match.
While speaking to newsmen in Cameroon, the Interim Coach of Super Eagles Austin Eguavoen said the technical crew of the team now have the luxury to feature some fringe players in their last group game against Guinea-Bissau because the team has already secured qualification to the second round.
“I have been long enough with this team, as a technical director from afar but this is the closest I have been with this team, which is about three weeks now,” he said.
“We actually started with quite a number of players, to be precise 24 on the fourth of January and on the fifth we flew out.
“On arrival here, nothing happened because we retired to bed at about 2 am and then preparation started on the sixth, and on the 11th we are to be on the field, so that was why when you see the lineup in this first two games it’s a little bit difficult to take risks.
“It’s better to play with people that know themselves so that was why we maintained what we had up to this point in time.
“We made it clear to all the players that everybody that has come here has a chance to play.
“Now coming to the next game with qualification secured, with a win on our mind as well I think we’ll give a couple of players the opportunity to play “
