Austin Eguavoen has said Super Eagles players have a big role to play by turning their own fortunes around.
The Eagles will begin the qualifying campaign for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with a home game against Cheetahs of Benin Republic on Saturday, September 7 in Uyo.
Then on matchday 2, the team will be guest to Rwanda in Kigali which will come up on Tuesday, September 10.
The Eagles have been in poor form in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers after failing to win any of their four fixtures so far (three draws, one draw).
Speaking ahead of the double header, Eguavoen stated that the Eagles have the players to make things happen.
“Nigeria is a nation that in terms of football a lot of countries respect and there’s no difference in this one,” Eguavoen said on NFF TV. “I am very confident that we will scale through in this two games and beyond.
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“We have the players, the personnels, we have the support, we have everything, they (players) were almost African champions months ago so it’s them.
“We will do everything that we have to do as technical crew and of course the federation and for Nigerians to rally round them but they are the ones to turn the table around.”
The 1994 AFCON winner added:”I have spoken to them and we will still have series of meetings before the game proper and I’m confident they would do the nation proud but we will treat Benin with respect, we will play them with big respect but this is our our home.“
Eguavoen was drafted in as Eagles coach after Bruno Labbadia turned down the offer of handling the team.
He will be assisted by Remo Stars coach Daniel Ogunmodede and Fidelis Ilechukwu of Rangers.
Meanwhile, the number of Super Eagles players have increased to 20 following the arrival of Bruno Onyemaechi and Raphael Onyedika.
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