Pinnick Insists Super Eagles Can Win AFCON in Cameroon

*Admits five Eagles tested positive for Covid but have recovered

Duro Ikhazuagbe

Despite attempts by clubs in Europe to restrict Nigerian and other African players from representing their countries at Africa Cup of Nations starting on January 9 in Cameroon, President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick believes Super Eagles can win the tournament.

Speaking on ARISE TV’s“The Morning Show” yesterday, Pinnick insisted that Super Eagles are as good as any of the 24 teams in Cameroon to win the African football showpiece.

“Nigeria can win the AFCON in Cameroon. The country to be feared at this tournament is Nigeria. When you think about Super Eagles preparation for a tournament is not right is when they shock the world and win tournament. Cameroon 2021 will not be an exception,” observed the CAF and FIFA executive Committee member in that his first interview of the new year yesterday on ARISE TV.

Pinnick insisted that God has special love for Nigeria. “Our preparations may look lackluster but trust me, when our players wear the green and white jerseys, it is a different ball game.”

He hinted that interim handler of the team, Austin Eguavoen was working hard with his team to deliver.

“Austin Eguavoen is an excellent Coach. As a former player, he understands the mentality of footballers and is doing his best to bring out the best in our players.,” stressed Pinnick.

However, the NFF President admitted that Eguavoen was facing the usual challenges indigenous coaches confront on the Super Eagles job.

“So many scouts and players’ agents are putting pressure on him to pick their players for the AFCON. They are telling him that this is his chance to ‘chop’ on the Super Eagles interim coaching job by compromising. But the Eguavoen I know has rebuffed these people and is doing what he considers to be right for Eagles to have a successful tournament,” revealed the NFF Boss.

Pinnick stressed that this distractions and unnecessary pressure is why foreign coaches are the preference of the NFF.

“ Scouts and players agents don’t try this sort of nonsense with foreign coaches,” Pinnick noted.

The NFF President who also admitted that five Super Eagles players tested positive for Covid is unperturbed as four of them have recovered and now test negative while the fifth is awaiting the result of his last test yesterday.

Pinnick is excited with Nigeria’s new Portuguese Head Coach, Jose Peseiro. “ Even before taking over the Eagles job, Jose (Peseiro) Know’s all our players in and out. The other time we were discussing, I was amazed with him reeling out facts and figures about each and every Super Eagles player.”

He dismissed critics who are against the appointment of Peseiro as Nigeria’s gaffer. “ Jose (Peseiro) is a world-class Coach. He’s coming to the Nigerian job with full knowledge of our players and how we play. Any Coach is as good as his last game. Trust me, he’s coming to deliver on the job,” stressed Pinnick who also revealed that the Portuguese coach would reside in Abuja and have a guest house in Lagos.

Pinnick pledged that African Football body (CAF) was going to legislate against European club sides that prevent African players from representing their countries in AFCON.

Super Eagles are scheduled to depart Abuja for Garoua, Cameroon on January 5, where they are to kick off their AFCON campaign against Egypt on January 11.