Super Eagles interim manager, Austin Eguavoen has reacted to the issue of European clubs not wanting to release players for the African Cup of Nations.
Eguavoen in an interview on NFF TV published on YouTube, discussed arrays of issues pertaining the forthcoming AFCON.
Reacting to the decision to withhold players by European clubs, Eguavoen recalled how he lost most of his players to European club.
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“Yes of course, everyone should be bothered because there is a list out there and if you don’t release the majority how do you put a team together.
” I remember in 2011 just before the Olympic games London 2012, we won all the games, blowing teams up 5-1 like that and 95 per cent of the players were from Europe, players like Nosa Igiebor, Nnamdi Oduamadi.
“But when it was time to go to Morocco (for the U-23 AFCON) out of the players who featured during the qualifiers for the U-23 AFCON, I only got like five of them, so it was a problem.
“So if European clubs are now saying we can’t release it will be a problem and to put another team together at this time would be tough.
He also talked about the possibility of Eagles playing friendly games before the tournament, strength of their group opponents and going back to wing play.
“It’s surprising and a shock to me but it is something I can’t say no to, I’m around and it’s something we have to do.
“The shortness of the time is something a lot of people have talked about.
“There is a team on the ground, this team is ready to compete any time any day when called upon.
“And yes the time is quite short we all know that but every coach has his own leadership style, his own philosophy.
“And with the quality of players we have I don’t think we will struggle but the only thing is there won’t be time for any friendlies because that’s when you actually assess your team if they can actually do what the technical crew want.
“So if there was time to play at least two or three friendly games you can tell them how to operate in departments individually and collectively and in lines then we can say yes.
” But as it is we just have to do what we have to do and in training sessions we can tell them how we want them to play and guide them.
On the possibility of the team playing a friendly match before the tournament, he confirmed there could be one.
“There would be but it won’t be as competitive as we want it because you don’t want to play the strongest team right now and when I say strong team I mean that can bully you and you have to be aware of injuries as well.
“If there was that time where you have FIFA windows you can go for it 100 per cent regardless because you know you still have time before the tournament.
“But the tournament starts January 9th, I’m not saying there won’t be friendly games but it would be a very casual one.
“The team has what it takes to go all the way but we have to take it game after game.
He also noted that no team is a minor in Group D which has seven times champions Egypt, Sudan and Guinea-Bissau.
” We know what they can bring to the table, not a pushover team.
“Mind you every team that qualify for the AFCON is not a pushover and we are going to do everything possible to see how we can analyse them individually and collectively and map out the strategy.
“And that’s what we should expect them to do as well because Nigeria is a big name, big country in terms of football and other teams would also be planning.
“We are doing that and we will continue to that until we find solutions on how we can take care of them.”
Super Eagles first group game will be against Egypt on January 11.