Nigeria's interim coach for the 2022 World Cup playoff, Augustine Eguavoen has explained the rationale behind his decision to name Leicester City winger Ademola Lookman in the starting lineup ahead of Moses Simon during the 1-1 draw against the Black Stars a week ago at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja.
The 1994 Africa Cup of Nations winner made five changes to the team that held Ghana to a goalless draw in Kumasi, handing starting debuts to Lookman, Watford striker Emmanuel Dennis and Rangers young defender Calvin Bassey, while Oghenekaro Etebo and Frank Onyeka were brought in to partner Joe Aribo in midfield.
On the other hand, Black Stars coach Otto Addo stuck with the same starting lineup that he used in the first leg.
It was suggested in some quarters that Eguavoen didn't have complete control of the Super Eagles and there were claims those upstairs at the Nigeria Football Federation and Ministry of Sports forced him to make as many as five changes for the second leg.
When asked why he had to make those changes, Eguavoen said on SuperSport Monday Night Football monitored by allnigeriasoccer.com : "That's not true, nobody can force any player on me.
"We've all been watching Lookman week in, week out and he has been doing tremendously well in his club not just in Leicester City, Fulham, even when he went abroad.
"And you can have a Lookman in the team following the performance of Moses Simon of late because you tell Moses,'you know what to do'. He's got that technique, he's got the ability to do things.
"Moses, physically he's stronger than Lookman whether we like it or not physically, and I just felt that Lookman at home can do things and after a certain time Moses can come and finish the job because he's got energy, he's got the strength."
"And you can have a Lookman in the team following the performance of Moses Simon of late because you tell Moses,'you know what to do'. He's got that technique, he's got the ability to do things.
"Moses, physically he's stronger than Lookman whether we like it or not physically, and I just felt that Lookman at home can do things and after a certain time Moses can come and finish the job because he's got energy, he's got the strength."
The highlight of Lookman's performance against the Black Stars in Abuja was winning the penalty which led to Nigeria's equaliser scored by William Troost-Ekong midway through the first half.
The 2017 U20 World Cup winner with England made way for Simon with thirty-one minutes left on the clock.
Ifeanyi Emmanuel
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