The Super Eagles of Nigeria put up unarguably the best display of the first round of games in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations when they beat Egypt 1-0 at the Stade Omnisport Roumde Adija on Tuesday.
Super Eagles interim boss Augustine Eguavoen has revealed that he had to improvise with tactics that the players were already used to in the game against Egypt.
It was the best performance that many Nigerian fans had experienced in a while. The Super Eagles dominated the game, bossing possession and creating more chances.
Egypt star man Mohamed Salah was caged for the entire game, and Nigeria made the Pharaohs look like passengers on the pitch.
However, going into the Africa Cup of Nations, a lot was not expected from the team, considering the poor preparation and Eguavoen’s late appointment.
The 56-year-old has hardly spent up to two weeks with the team, but he explained that he had improvised tactics that the players were already used to.
“It’s still the same personnel, but what we did was to bring the boys together and ask them the formation they are comfortable with because I want to be flexible,” Eguavoen told NFF TV.
“I wanted a change, but they said, listen, this is what we’ve been used to for the past few years. I said, okay, I took it, and then worked on it and improved that very formation.”
With the impressive show on Tuesday, Eguavoen’s team could be considered as big favourites to win the AFCON.
However, even if he lifts the trophy, he will have to step down for Jose Peseiro after the AFCON.