Nigeria's caretaker manager Augustine Eguavoen has explained his thinking behind the decision to include Oghenekaro Etebo in the finalized 25-man roster for the 2022 World Cup playoff with Ghana at the expense of FC Lorient winter signing Innocent Bonke.

When the squad list was announced by the Nigeria Football Federation last week, Etebo hadn't played competitively for Watford's first team for more than five months as he was lacking match fitness after recovering from a quad injury that required surgery.

On the other hand, Bonke, who has Champions League experience under his belt, has quickly established himself as a first team regular since joining Lorient, making five starts in the French Ligue 1.

A central midfielder like Etebo, Bonke did not cover himself in glory in his two appearances for the Super Eagles during the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, so much so that he was not considered for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

Eguavoen revealed that Etebo got the nod over Bonke for the games against Ghana because he knows what the Stoke City-owned midfielder can bring to the team, whereas he didn't know much about the former Malmo ace.

The 1994 Africa Cup of Nations winner claimed that Etebo was supposed to make his comeback from injury in Watford's goalless draw against Manchester United, only for Hornets manager Roy Hodgson to make a late change to the matchday squad for the visit to Old Trafford.

"Etebo I have worked with closely, Bonke I haven't and I have not had a chance to go to France to watch him play. He is in my plans no doubt," Eguavoen said to Elegbete TV Sports.

"Like I said Etebo I have worked with closely, I've watched him closely when he played for Siasia in the U23s and when he played for former coach Gernot Rohr in Super Eagles, I have interacted with him.

"He was listed among the team when they went to Old Trafford to play against Manchester United about two weeks ago but that changed, he was supposed to be dressed and he wasn't dressed but he's fit.

"Etebo coming in now does not say he would be in the starting lineup."

Etebo stepped up his recovery from injury by featuring for Watford U23s against Ipswich Town in a Professional Development League clash on February 21 and seventeen days later, made his first appearance for the first team since September versus Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel