Nigeria's interim boss Augustine Eguavoen has explained how his list for the 2022 World Cup playoff matches with regional rivals Ghana came about.
The 1994 Africa Cup of Nations-winning fullback has named 32 players on the expanded roster comprising 25 on the main list and seven on the standby list.
Eguavoen has handed first time call-ups to Leicester City winger Ademola Lookman and FC Copenhagen newbie Akinkunmi Amoo, otherwise he has stuck with majority of the players who were with the team for the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, but Everton winger Alex Iwobi misses out due to suspension.
The Super Eagles caretaker coach admitted that he consulted with his assistants Emmanuel Amuneke and Salisu Yusuf before coming up with the list of players in contention to face the Black Stars.
"I have to consult my assistant coaches. I spoke with my people and they all came with their different lists and when I looked at it it was close to what I had in mind as well," Eguavoen said at a media briefing monitored by allnigeriasoccer.com.
"And then I slept over it for two days, time was running, the list has to go out.
"Before that list finally came out these players you're talking about now that were not in the team were supposed to be but nobody has the right to be in any team because me coaching Nigeria today is not my right, it is only a privilege so if you have the opportunity you take it.
"I spoke with couple of them saying you are not going to be part of this game but subsequent games you will be part of it.
"Before that list finally came out these players you're talking about now that were not in the team were supposed to be but nobody has the right to be in any team because me coaching Nigeria today is not my right, it is only a privilege so if you have the opportunity you take it.
"I spoke with couple of them saying you are not going to be part of this game but subsequent games you will be part of it.
"You have to take it in good faith, whether they took it in good faith or not, I don't know."
Nigeria will face off with Ghana at the Cape Coast Stadium on Friday, March 25 while the return leg will hold at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja four days later.
Ifeanyi Emmanuel
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All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from allnigeriasoccer.com
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