Coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Austine Eguavoen will make six changes to the Super Eagles of Nigeria team that will prosecute the last group game against Guinea Bissau, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Eguavoen will hand rest to goalkepper Maduka Okoye with Francis Uzoho set to start in goal. Also Kenneth Omeruo will be given a rest with Semi Ajayi set to play alongside William Troost Ekong in central defence.

Tyrone Ebuehi and Jamilu Collins will take the place of Ola Aina and Zaidu Sanusi respectively with Kelechi Nwakali coming in for Joe Aribo to pair Wilfred Ndidi in the midfield. Kelechi Iheanacho keeps his spot behind the main striker.

In attack, the duo of Alex Iwobi and Chidera Ejuke will play on either flanks leaving Peter Olayinka as the top striker in the game which is of no consequence to Nigeria as they are already winners of their group.

Starting XI: Uzoho – Ebuehi, Ekong, Semi, Collins – Ndidi, Nwakali, Iheanacho, Iwobi, Ejuke & Olayinka

Players of the senior national team of Nigeria currently at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations have thrown their weight behind the jersey of Authentic Nigeria Football & Allied Sports Supportes club meant to support them at the tournament.

A host of the players who have so far piloted Nigeria to the knock out round of the tournament following two consecutive wins in their first two games of the tournament endorsed the shirt by the group.

Samuel Chukwueze, Sadiq Umar, Joe Aribo, Moses Simon and Wilfred Ndidi were among the players of the team who identify with leading group in terms of supporting the senior national team of Nigeria.

Responding to their gesture, President of ANFASSC Abayomi Ogunjimi said it’s a testament that the players recognise their efforts in ensuring that they get the best of support when they are on the pitch.

” We are excited that the players know our worth. It’s a reminder to them as well that they carry the weight of over 120 million Nigerians on their shoulders. They know we have their back when they need us and we hope to see them all the way to the title”, he concluded.

Super Eagles rave of the moment Moses Simon says team glory at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations comes ahead of any desire of his to finish as the most valuable player of the tournament (MVP).

The Nantes of France winger has impressed in the two games the Super Eagles have played so far with a goal and an assist to his name in the Super Eagles 3-1 win over Sudan. He also picked up the man of the match award.

26 year old Simon is viewed by many as one of the best players of the tournament so far and the question was put before him as Nigeria get set to take on Guinea Bissau in their final group game.

“I don’t think about the MVP, I want the team to always achieve victory and then the Cup. We just want to take things step by step”, he told OwnGoalNigeria.com

“I can’t pinpoint one team that could be a threat. All the 24 teams are good, we don’t need to fear anyone. We just need to be prepared for whatever comes our way”.

He was asked if he sees the history of the host nation Cameroon against Nigeria as an edge if both teams clash at the tournament. He said the present team of Nigeria will go all out to change the narrative.

“Cameroon? In the past it was different set of players that faced Cameroon. This time around we would go all out and change our plans”, he concluded.

Coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Austine Eguavoen says their is no basis to compare Almeria striker Sadiq Umar with his international teammate Taiwo Awoniyi of Union Berlin.

Sadiq has played second fiddle to the Union Berlin forward who scored his first goal at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Nigeria’s 3-1 win over Sudan in what was his second consecutive start.

In both games, Sadiq was introduced as a substitute for Awoniyi but he is still yet to find his rythm leading to calls for him to be axed but Eguavoen has defended the lanky striker. He said the team doesn’t rely on the strikers for goals, naming Joe Aribo as one of the players with the responsibility to score goals for the team.

“Sadiq and Awoniyi are different type of players, that doesn’t mean they can’t score goals. Awoniyi has been scoring goals in the German League, same with Sadiq. The good thing is that we aren’t giving responsibility for one player to score goals. We have given Aribo the freedom to score goals. He has done that very well. Anybody in this team can score. We are trying to play to our strengths”, he explained.

Last season the 24 year old finished as top scorer in the Spanish second division with 20 goals from 40 games aside the six goals he scored at Partizan Belgrade before his move on transfer deadline day last season.

He is in line for his first start of the tournament when Nigeria take on Guinea Bissau in their final group game which is a dead rubber tie for the Nigerian team, who are certain to finish as group winners.

Interim coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Austine Eguavoen says he was quoted out of context on the performance of Almeria striker Sadiq Umar.

The coach was quoted as saying that the Almeria striker doesn’t play to instructions after underperforming in his second appearance as a substitute at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

Sadiq was introduced in the second half of Nigeria’s 3-1 win over Sudan just as he was as in the 1-0 win over Egypt. Eguavoen said he is a striker who will come good with time as he is still adapting to how he wants the team to play.

” I didn’t mean he doesn’t play to instructions. He is a cool, talented player who is yet to understand how I want the team to play. He is new to African football as he has played all of his football in Europe. When his adaptation is over he will bang goals for fun”, Eguavoen told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

Last season the 24 year old finished as top scorer in the Spanish second division with 20 goals from 40 games aside the six goals he scored at Partizan Belgrade before his move on transfer deadline day last season.

Already he has 8 goals this season from 19 games with Almeria aiming to secure promotion to the top flight where Sadiq is courted by several teams.

The former coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr says he is excited for Moses Simon who has been one of the best players for Nigeria in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations.

Simon picked up a goal and an assist yesterday as Nigeria secure passage to the round of 16 with a 3-1 win over Sudan. Their second consecutive win of the tournament after their 1-0 win over Egypt.

The coach was underfire for sticking with the Nantes winger all through the qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup where he started in very game as Nigeira secured a spot in the play off of the qualifying series.

Rohr speaking on Canal+ where he is doing punditry for the Africa Cup of Nations said Simon wasn’t the most loved player in the team until recently but he has never doubted the 26 year old.

” When I was coach, a lot of people wanted me to drop him but he is very important to my team. He puts the team first and play for all with ease. I love his attitude on the pitch and he is a perfect gentleman off the pitch. I never doubted him”, Rohr said after Simon was handed the man of the match award yesterday.

Coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Austine Eguavoen says Almeria forward Sadiq Umar is guilty of not playing according to instructions after another unimpressive performance at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Just as it was for Nigeria in their 1-0 win over Egypt, Sadiq was introduced as a second half substitute for Taiwo Awoniyi with Nigeria leading 3-1. He didn’t do enough to justify his introduction, same like it was in the first game.

It led to suggestions about the coach not making the right substitution but Eguavoen was quick to play it down insisting that it is a case of Umar not playing to instructions.

“Substitution yes has been spot on, you can see Awoniyi the lone striker, of course, Iheanacho behind him, he was tired,” he told his post-match press conference on Saturday.

“It was necessary for us to bring in fresh legs, but the instruction given to the player [Sadiq] that comes in is a little bit different from what he goes in there and does so makes it a bit difficult.

“I think we have a bench rich enough to pull us through”.

Interim coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Austine Eguavoen has explained why Kelechi Nwakali isn’t starring games yet at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

Nwakali has made two substitute appearances so far for the Nigerian team who are through to the round of 16 of the tournament following yesterday’s 3-1 win over Sudan.

Eguavoen was asked about the performance of Nwakali and he called for patience as he believe the Huesca midfielder is still trying to find his feet in the team.

For now he is sticking with Joe Aribo who has good chemistry with Wilfred Ndidi due to the fact that they have played together for a sustained as period of time.

“More patience I’d say. He has been a fringe player in and out of the team now we have given him all the confidence to come in and not to start the game because Aribo is being there, good understanding with the team and with Ndidi in the middle of the park”, Eguavoen explained.

“Ndidi actually hasn’t played with Kelechi so it’s a little bit difficult to just change the team’s formation so that’s what it is.

“Kelechi we all know is a good player, we expect more than this from him. When he settles down you can see better football from him. He didn’t do that badly and when you lack match rhythm it also affects but I think he performed well.”

The senior national team of Nigeria secured passage into the round of 16 in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations with a 3-1 win over Sudan in their second game.

OwnGoalNigeria.com rates the players on parade for Nigeria in the encounter

Maduka Okoye – Didn’t have anything serious to do. Was on holiday but did disappoint with some of his balls out of defence. Almost messed up a simple catch but redeemed himself…..6/10

Kenneth Omeruo – Hit some wayward passes but very comfortable under pressure. Has been the surprise in the Nigerian team considering how he came into the team due to the unavailability of Leon Balogun…..6/10

William Troost Ekong – Solid but not spectacular. However this time around he looked very much up for it by matching the pace of the Sudanese forward with ease. A step up from his performance against Egypt…..6/10

Zaidu Sanusi – Didn’t quite impress with his intention to switch play and used the ball poorly. However he was solid defensively including a last ditch tackle to deny Sudan a clear chance at goal…..6.5/10

Ola Aina – Bombed forward with ease. Took his men out as well and linked up nicely with Chukwueze on the right. Unlucky to give away what looks like a soft penalty…..7/10

Wilfred Ndidi – Another monstrous performance from the Leicester City man. Solid in tackle. Assured in possession and covered every blade of grass for the good of the team. Gets this team moving…..7/10

Joe Aribo – Plays majestically as he does the hard things with less effort. The manner which he wins and initiate attack is such a sight to behold. His substitution led to the collapse of the Nigerian midfield. Showing how important he is to the team…..7/10

Kelechi Iheanacho – Dropped deep to get involved and still made his presence in the box felt when he needed to.  Got subbed off as a means of giving him a rest from the look of things…..6/10

Taiwo Awoniyi – Had two good chances to get on the score sheet but was unlucky until he got his goal with a predatory instinct of a striker full of confidence. Such a presence in the box…..6/10

Samuel Chukwueze – Didn’t get going early and yet to hit the height expected of him. Took his goal nicely. Got subbed off at the start of the second half with was looked like an injury. Still not at his best…..5/10

Moses Simon – Lively, direct and daring. A constant threat down the left for Nigeria and looks the more likely to make things happen when on the ball. Got an early assist by setting up Chukwueze and got among the scorers early into the second half. An early contender for player of the tournament…..8/10

Substitutes:

Alex Iwobi –  Showed clean pairs of heels when needed and almost grabbed an assist. Still not at his best level…..5/10

Kelechi Nwakali – Slowed down the momentum of the Nigerian team and didn’t quite make his mark in the team like Aribo whom he replaced…. 4/10

Ahmed Musa – Brought injection of pace to the attack but did nothing to note to earn a rating.

Sadiq Umar – Wasted a promising move to mount an attack by hitting a wayward shot. Yet to get in on the act.

The senior national team of Nigeria secured passage into the round of 16 in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations with a 3-1 win over Sudan in their second game. OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nigeria got in on the act early into the half with Moses Simon setting up Samuel Chukwueze for the opening goal of the game as early as the 3rd minute of the game..

Three more chances to increase to increase the goal went begging with Taiwo Awoniyi missing two good chances. Joe Aribo missed the other. However Awoniyi made atonement for his miss.

With was virtually the last kick of the game , Awoniyi headed home the second goal for Nigeria before Simon put the game beyond the reach of the Sudanese with a goal of how own one minute after the restart.

Sudan did pull a goal back from the spot when Ola Aina was adjudged to have foul his man by pulling his shirt after a review by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).

Walieldin Khedr sent Maduka Okoye the wrong way but the goal ended as a consolation as Nigeria hanged on to claim all three points and passage to the round of 16.