Eguavoen with Siasia



Former Nigeria coach Austin Eguavoen believes that Cameroon will present a tougher physical challenge to the Super Eagles in tonight’s friendly match in Brussels.

The Eagles lost 2-0 to the Democratic Republic of Congo in Thursday’s friendly and need a morale-boosting performance against the Indomitable Lions when they meet for the first time since 2004 on Sunday evening.

Coach Sunday Oliseh’s side, distracted by the fallout with former captain Vincent Enyeama, looked lethargic as they crumbled against the Leopards in Vise.

However, Eguavoen believes things can be turned around tonight as the team prepares to play its first pair of 2018 World Cup qualifiers next month as well as a couple of 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Egypt in March 2016.

“It’ going to be a completely different game from Congo because I think Cameroon are a little bit stronger,” Eguavoen said.

“We’re trying to restore confidence in Nigerians. After the last game, people had started to lose confidence in the Eagles.

“Thank God we still have enough time before the Egypt match or when the next game will come up.”

The former defender questioned the steel in the team’s attacking and asked for faster transitions.

“Whenever Nigeria takes on Cameroon or Ghana, the game can go either way,” Eguavoen, who played his share of those matches in the past, said.

“One thing I want to see the Eagles do is that they have to be a little more aggressive, ball movement has to be a little bit quicker in transition.

“When we recover the ball we have space behind, we have to move the ball quicker but if we don’t we can keep possession. But keeping possession in our own half can be detrimental because that is what caused the second goal.

“The Congolese pressured us and we lost the ball in our right full back position.

“I still have hope in the team, the boys just have to raise their game. If they do that, I don’t think anybody can stand against Nigeria,” he said.

The game will come up by 7pm.