Super Eagles Interim head coach, Augustine Eguavoen, has revealed that the home-based Super Eagles have a golden opportunity to showcase their talent and potentially earn a spot in the senior national team, Soccernet.ng reports.
After their toothless draw in Ghana, the Super Eagles B team are slated to tackle the Black Galaxies of Ghana on Saturday at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo to secure their ticket to participate in the 2025 CHAN tournament.
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Speaking in an interview on Xmas special on Sports Salsa (Kennis 104.1FM/Kennisfm.com) with Mix Master Dr Mitchell Obi, Eguavoen emphasised the importance of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in providing a platform for players from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) to prove their worth.
“It is an opportunity to showcase our league like [Daniel] Ogunmodede said and also [Fidelis] Illechukwu, I chatted him yesterday. [And] it is also an opportunity for some of the boys to break into the senior [national] team,” Eguavoen stated.
The former Super Eagles coach acknowledged the challenges in integrating home-based players into the senior team due to scheduling conflicts and the high stakes of competitive games played thus far.
“We’re looking for that opportunity to give them the chance to play for the senior national team, but that hasn’t really come because the games are so close that the boys in Europe come in just three or two days before a game, and all those games we've played so far are delicate that we can’t take risks,” he explained.
However, Eguavoen expressed optimism that the CHAN tournament would provide the perfect setting for these players to prove themselves.
“With the CHAN, they can prove what they can do. They have an opportunity to play for the senior team, maybe four or five of them. I am sure they won’t toy with this big opportunity,” he said confidently.
The home-based Super Eagles are set to seize the moment with the CHAN tournament on the horizon with a victory in the second-leg clash.
