Eguavoen confident in Super Eagles ahead of AFCON 2025 qualifiers
Nigeria’s interim coach, Austin Eguavoen, has expressed confidence in the Super Eagles’ ability to secure qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 in Morocco. Speaking in an interview with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) media, Eguavoen highlighted the team’s strengths and the importance of starting the campaign with victories in their upcoming matches.
The Super Eagles, who are placed in Group D alongside Benin, Rwanda, and Libya, are widely regarded as the favorites to top the group.
Despite recent struggles in performance, Eguavoen remains optimistic that Nigeria has what it takes to succeed in these qualifiers.
The team will kick off their campaign with matches against Benin on September 7 and Rwanda on September 10, 2024, both crucial fixtures that could set the tone for their path to AFCON 2025.
“Nigeria is a nation, in terms of football, many countries respect it, and the AFCON 2025 qualifiers are no different.
I am very confident that we can do well in these two games and beyond. We have the equipment, the players, the staff, and the support. We have everything,” Eguavoen stated.
Eguavoen’s confidence stems not only from the team’s historical achievements but also from his strategic approach to managing the squad.
He believes that reminding the players of their recent near-success in the last AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire will boost their morale and performance on the field.
The interim coach emphasized the importance of psychological preparation, ensuring the players remember their capabilities and the high standards expected of them.
“The only thing we have to remind these players is that they almost became African champions a few months ago; it’s not even a year ago.
So what happened? They are still the same players. We are going to do everything we have to do as a technical team, and of course, as a federation,” Eguavoen explained.
He also highlighted the critical role of the Nigerian supporters in motivating the team.
According to Eguavoen, the backing of the nation will be instrumental in the Super Eagles’ success, urging the fans to rally behind the team as they take on their group opponents.
“Nigerians will also rally behind them, but it is they (the players) who have the duty to turn this situation around.
I have spoken to them, and we will have a few more meetings before the actual game, and I am very confident that they will go out on the pitch and make the nation proud,” he added.
Despite being confident in his team’s abilities, Eguavoen stressed the importance of respecting their opponents, noting that underestimating any team could be detrimental.
The Super Eagles are set to play their first qualifier against Benin at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, where Eguavoen is determined to secure a win.
“We will treat our opponents with the utmost respect, there is no doubt about that, because in football, if you disrespect a team, you will have problems.
So we will face them with a lot of respect, but this is our home, and we have no choice but to make sure we start our AFCON qualifying campaign with a win on Saturday,” Eguavoen concluded.
As the Super Eagles prepare for their first test in the AFCON 2025 qualifiers, the pressure is on to deliver results that will reaffirm Nigeria’s status as a football powerhouse in Africa.
With Eguavoen at the helm, the team is poised to rise to the occasion and make a strong start to their journey towards Morocco.
