Super Eagles interim head coachh Augustine Eguavoen has expressed uncertainty over the availability of Samuel Chukwueze and Innocent Bonke ahead of Tuesday’s crucial 2022 World Cup qualifying playoffs against Ghana.
Both players missed the Super Eagles training on Monday evening ahead of the game at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja.
Eguavoen in his pre-match conference flanked by Moses Simon and Joseph Yobo stressed that he will receive the reports of the players availability by 9pm.
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Both players featured in Friday’s first leg clash which ended goalless but were substituted in the second half.
In the Eagles’ training session on Sunday Chukwueze did not take part and it was reported later that he has a slight groin injury.
However, Eguavoen noted that the absence of both players will not affect his game plans as there are players to fill the vacuum.
“Chukwueze and Bonke are under observation the result hasn’t come.
“Bonke is not participating in training this evening as well because he had a knock he overstretched himself in Kumasi you know he worked very hard in Kumasi and did so well.
“The medical team is still working on them it’s 24 hours before the game we are not going to risk anything.
“I’m expecting a report from medical team once they get that to me at 9pm tonight we will know if they will be in the pitch or not.
“But we have enough personnels in the team that can do the job.“
Responding to how his team will tackle the game, the former Super Eagles defender said;
“The biggest question we must answer is to score goals if the opportunity comes.
You know in high level match like this if you have the chance you have to take it.
“Ghana played very well, they are not a push over they are a team we respect and they respect us as well.
“There were no clear cut Chance for Ghana but we came close to scoring. So what we need to do tomorrow every chance we get tomorrow must count so scoring goals is what we are trying to correct.“
Eguavoen said he was not under pressure ahead of the game.
“I’m not under any pressure.
“I’m representing all Nigerian coaches both old and young and we want to collectively be in Qatar.“