The argument over the non Inclusion of players from the Nigeria Professional Football League in the Super Eagles squad for the World Cup qualifiers playoff against Ghana has been explained by the coach of the Nigerian team.

Coach Austine Eguavoen released a list of 32 players for the game with seven placed on standby for the game which will take place in Cape Coast and Abuja on the 25th and 29th of March respectively.

Eguavoen said he has players from the league in mind after visiting some league venues and went ahead to name the players, revealing that he has them in his plans.

He said about seven of them are very much in his head and he will in the future consider them for call up but for now because of the crucial nature of the games against Ghana. He is in no position to take risk.

“I have my own plan. We have our own plans. Like you know I have visited league venues and they are couple of names I have in mind. I watched Kwara United, there’s one boy Azeez who is a very good midfield player, Tope from Rangers, Ishaq from Rivers, I think he followed us to South Africa for the Guateng Under 17, I have been following him”, he stated.

“There is Uche from Rivers as well , Olorunleke Ojo. Infact I have their names here. These are all names I have penned down about seven of them. So this is why I told you I don’t have to tell you what my plans are. I have them close to my chest”, he concluded.

The decision to place CSKA Moscow winger Chidera Ejuke on the standby list in the Super Eagles squad for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers playoff against Ghana has been made known by coach of the team.

Ejuke rated as one of the best dribblers in the team was relegated to the role of standby alongside six others. But many saw his inclusion as odd as he has shown glimpses of potentials when called upon.

Interim coach of the Nigerian team Austine Eguavoen during a media parley with journalist was asked about the decision to leave the winger out following his involvement in the Africa Cup of Nations.

Eguavoen revealed that while the winger is still very much in his plans, his not too impressive performance at the AFCON and also the current war between Russia and Ukraine is partly responsible for his decision to place him on standby.

“Ejuke very good player. I admire a lot. In the African Cup of Nations he played just one game but he was not at his best due to reasons best known to him. Although we discussed but the outcome of the discussion. I don’t have to let you know”, he explained.

”So he is still in my plan. I don’t like to use the word mine. He is still in our plan. Very much in our plan and now you see Russia, Ukraine right now is in turmoil and he is playing in that region as well”, he concluded.

Interim head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Austine Eguavoen has defended the inclusion of Ogenyi Onazi in the Super Eagles squad for the World Cup qualifiers playoff against Ghana.

Onazi was named among the seven players on standby for the game which will take place in Cape Coast on the 25th of March and in Abuja on the 29th respectively. The winner on aggregate after both games will progress to the World Cup in Qatar.

Responding to questions from journalist on the reason behind the inclusion of the former Lazio man who was once upon a time vice captain of the team, Eguavoen said Onazi who now plays in the second division of Saudi Arabia wasn’t initially in his list.

He said he included the Al-Adalah of Saudi Arabia defensive midfielder on standby to pacify everybody but says he will have the final say on including him in his main list of players for the game.

“Onazi, good player. Whether he’s still good and can play at that level, we don’t know. But that’s why I said to pacify everybody, to ensure there’s harmony here, put him on the standby. While he’s on the standby, I have the final say”, he said.

Interim technical adviser of the senior national team of Nigeria Austine Eguavoen says he has already established contacts with Spartak Moscow winger Victor Moses on staging a return to the Super Eagles.

Eguavoen made this known while speaking at a media parley with some selected journalist. He revealed he has already had talks with the winger who quit international football in 2018 shortly after the World Cup in Russia.

He said Moses is still among the best players available to Nigeria and he is keen on having him back in the team but not for the Ghana game which he partly blamed on the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia. Same zone where the 31 year old now plys his trade. He is however optimistic of having him for future games.

“Even Victor Moses, I will break the news. Victor Moses, we want the best for the country. Victor Moses is somebody I also adore and I am looking at ways of trying to get him in”, he said.

”We have spoken but he is not part of this game but hopefully as time goes on because we want the best. Wether we like it or not. I think Victor Moses will still bring some value. But right now he is also playing in that region. So that one is settled”.

Former coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Samson Siasia has reacted to the list of invited players for the senior national team of Nigeria World Cup qualifiers playoff games against Ghana.

Interim technical adviser of the team Austine Eguavoen named 32 players with seven on standby for the game which will take place in Cape Coast and Abuja on the 25th and 29th of March respectively.

In the list fresh call up was handed to three new players in Ademola Lookman and Akinkumi Amoo while Emmanuel Dennis, Oghenekaro Etebo, Calvin Bassey, Shehu Abdullahi, Victor Osimhen and Odion Ighalo were handed a recall.

Reacting to the list Siasia faulted the invitation of several new players by way of fresh invitation to the team or recall after missing out on the Africa Cup of Nations where Nigeria crashed out in the round of 16.

“You need to play people that understand themselves if you bring new ones it becomes difficult for them to understand themselves and play the partner you want to play,” Siasia told Brila FM.

“For me it’s not the right decision to bring new players, you are better off with the ones you know already that have been playing together and understand themselves because you have three days to practice before you go to Ghana. So for me this is not the right list.”

Condemnations continue to impede the selection of Ogenyi Onazi as a member of the Super Eagles’ 32-man provisional team to play Ghana in an Qatar 2022 World Cup play-off game later this month.

Nigeria are expected to compete for a spot at the biggest football event around the globe when they clash with Ghana in a two-legged encounter later this month

In the lead-up to the mouth-watering game, Eagles coach Austin Eguavoen announced his 2013 AFCON player as among seven players available to play in the crucial match, the move that has infuriated Super Eagles fans.

There have been four years since the last time the midfielder played for Nigeria during the 3-0 victory over Seychelles in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The 29-year-old also served as an unused substitute for the Eagles in three games during the tournament of 2018 World Cup.

This year, Onazi has played a miserable 19 games in every competition, playing 946 minutes while scoring only one goal.

Despite being in the list of standby players, certain sections of the football community in Nigeria have expressed their displeasure at the list that was released by Eguavoen last Friday.

“I thought we are playing for the World Cup and not just a friendly match? What is Onazi, who many had thought had retired doing in the squad, I hope this is not what I am thinking,” a stunned Emmanuel Ajegunma sarcastically asked.

Wole Popoola, an IT technician, also expressed his disapppontment over the inclusion for Onazi even on the standby list.

“Onazi needs to understand that he has passed his prime,” he told PUNCH Sports Extra.

“Is it so difficult to get players who are still in the active league rather than those in the obscure league? I don’t find this list so convincing.”

Alexander Ehodagbe also used JEA Saprong’s quest of the Black Stars not to use players based in small leagues in Asia for the two crucial matches. He said: “I heard the Ghanaians are saying their coach should not invite players playing in the Saudi league and here we are digging out one from there. I laugh for Nigeria my country.”

“I saw on standby Ogenyi Onazi, is he still playing football? I thought he has retired,” Chinedu Eze wrote on Twitter.

Also, commenting on the Super Eagles Twitter handle, Dozie Owums said, “Eguavoen, how did Onazi make the list over Lorient’s Innocent Bonke or Denmark-based Raphael Onyedika?

Post was written by Ademetan Abayomi and was first published on his platform futbalgalore.com.ng.

Former captain of the senior national team of Nigeria John Obi Mikel says Joe Aribo should be made to play just behind the main striker in the Super Eagles set up ahead of the game against Ghana.

Looking ahead of the World Cup playoff which will take place in Ghana on the 25th of March and in Nigeria on the 29th respectively, Mikel said the major change to the lineup should be Aribo having a new role in the team.

Aribo has excelled this season playing farther up the pitch for Scottish side Rangers both in the Europa League and also the Scottish Premier League. For the Super Eagles he plays a lot deeper.

Mikel wants head coach of the Nigerian team Austine Eguavoen to hand Aribo the role currently occupied by Kelechi Iheanacho as it’s where he will be at his optimal best for Nigeria.

“Aribo plays really well for the team but he can do more if played just behind the main striker. He has goals in him and can also create as well as help start the press high up the pitch due to his energy. The team will get more from him if he is played in that role “, Mikel told OwnGoalNigeria.com in an exclusive chat.

Asked on if he thinks Aribo as has done well wearing the number ten jersey that he vacated following his retirement from international football, Mikel described Aribo as a modern day number ten whose primary role goes beyond picking up assists or creating chances.

“Football is constantly changing and the number ten role has also changed a lot. Aribo plays like a modern day number ten. More of helping in the transition from defence to attack. The emphasis is less on assists or creating chances. These days they also score goals”, he concluded.