Eguavoen Laments Home-based Eagles Loss to Mexico

*Says: “Eagles have good AFCON 2021 pairing in Group D

Duro Ikhazuagbe

Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Austin Eguavoen has lamented Nigeria’s 0-4 defeat by Mexico as it has further act as damper to quests to have more home-based players in the senior national team, the Super Eagles.

Players from the domestic NPFL were thrashed by the Mexicans in an international friendly played in Dallas last month.

While fielding questions in Lagos yesterday on the possibility of having more players from the domestic league in the team, Eguavoen who is a former Captain and Coach of the Super Eagles, said the experiment in America was a painful one to those pushing the case.

“We all know the Mexicans are ranked 11th globally by FIFA but that defeat has made it worse,” stressed the ex international fondly called Cerezo in his days with Eagles.

He admitted that part of the problem was that “any player coming up and showing signs of quality in the domestic league is quickly snapped up by foreign clubs. You really cannot blame the players who are seeking greener pastures abroad.

“Take the case of Enyimba’s Anayo Iwuala and John Noble who just made the grade to the senior team from the NPFL. As we speak, Iwuala is already an Esperance of Tunisia player,” observed the coach.

As technical director of the NFF, Eguavoen promised to always push for the best of Nigerian players to be in the Super Eagles and other teams.

He dismissed insinuations that Super Eagles Head Coach, Gernot Rohr does not listen to advice from the Technical Committee.

“Since I joined the NFF as Technical Director, I have not experienced forwarding any observations to the leadership of the federation and be shoved aside. I am doing my job in my capacity as TD and will keep supporting all the teams.

Asked for his comments on Nigeria’s AFCON 2021 pairing in Group D along with seven-time champions Egypt, Sudan and Guinea Bissau, Eguavoen insisted that it was a fair one where Eagles should be able to flourish.

“There is nothing wrong with the Group D pairing. I believe that our team should be able to flourish and move into the knock out stage.”

Eguavoen is unfazed by the presence of Mohamed Salah in the Pharaohs’ line up. “We also have our stars playing in same league as Salah,” concludes the ex international.