Interim coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Augustine Eguavoen has admitted he is bothered because a majority of European clubs don’t want to release players for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, on time.
Recall that some managers of top European clubs with African players have criticized the timing of AFCON, with the fourth wave of COVID-19 creating more fears.
Eguavoen, who replaced Gernot Rohr as coach of Nigeria national team, said he is worried because he has a list and if he doesn’t release it, then it will be difficult for him to put a team together before the AFCON kick-offs on January 9.
Nigeria is in Group D alongside Egypt, Sudan and Guinea-Bissau.
Asked to comment on the issue of European clubs not wanting to release players for AFCON and if it bothers him, Eguavoen told NFF TV: “Yes, of course, everyone should be bothered because there is a list out there and if you don’t release the majority how do you put a team together.
“I remember in 2011 just before the Olympic games London 2012, we won all the games, blowing teams up 5-1 like that and 95 percent of the players were from Europe, players like Nosa Igiebor, Nnamdi Oduamadi.
“But when it was time to go to Morocco (for the U-23 AFCON) out of the players who featured during the qualifiers for the U-23 AFCON, I only got like five of them, so it was a problem. So if European clubs are now saying we can’t release them, it will be a problem and to put another team together at this time would be tough.”
Recall that Eguavoen released a 28-man provisional list for the 2021 AFCON a few days ago.
AFCON 2021: Nigeria suffers another major injury blow ahead of Egypt clash
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Nigeria has suffered another injury blow ahead of their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, opener against Egypt on January 11.
Nigerian defender, Abdullahi Shehu, has emerged as an injury worry for the Super Eagles’ interim manager, Austine Eguavoen, ahead of the Egypt clash.
Shehu suffered an injury during the first half of Omonia Nicosia’s 4-2 defeat to APOEL on Boxing Day.
The right-back felt discomfort after a duel with an APOEL defender in the 34th minute and managed to continue playing until the 37th minute when he was replaced by Paris Psaltis.
Shehu is expected to compete with Ola Aina and Chidozie Awaziem for the Super Eagles right-back position at the AFCON, while Kenneth Omeruo could cover at right-back though it’s not his natural position.
The 28-year-old will now hope to recover on time before Nigeria tackle Egypt.
Recall that Super Eagles striker, Paul Onuachu, was not included in the 28-man provisional squad for AFCON after he sustained a hamstring injury during Genk’s 1-1 home draw against Royal Antwerp a few days ago.
Nigeria are in Group D alongside Egypt, Sudan and Guinea-Bissau.
AFCON 2021: Nigeria finally release 28-man provisional squad [Full list]
Nigeria on Saturday named a 28-man squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
The list was made public by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
Huesca’s Kelechi Nwakalu, Union Berlin’s Taiwo Awoniyi, Almeria striker Sadiq Umar and in-form Watford forward Emmanuel Dennis all made the cut.
The usual suspects are also included in the provisional squad.
Victor Osimhen is included despite his facial injury. Leon Balogun, William Troost-Ekong, Ahmed Musa, Alex Iwobi, Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi have also been called-up.
But there’s no place for Venezia’s Tyronne Ebuehi, although Olisa Ndah of Orlando Pirates got his maiden call-up to the team.
The Eagles are in Group D with Egypt, Guinea-Bissau and Sudan at the 2021 AFCON.
FULL SQUAD:
Goalkeepers:
Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); John Noble (Enyimba FC); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands)
Defenders: Chidozie Awaziem (Alanyaspor FC, Turkey); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Leon Balogun (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Abdullahi Shehu (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Olisa Ndah (Orlando Pirates, South Africa)
Midfielders: Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Galsgow Rangers, Scotland); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Kelechi Nwakali (SD Huesca, Spain)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Sadiq Umar (UD Almeria, Spain); Taiwo Awoniyi (Union Berlin, Germany); Odion Jude Ighalo (Al-Shabab Riyadh, Saudi Arabia); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Emmanuel Dennis (Watford FC, England)
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