Super Eagles interim coach gives reasons for repeating the same starting lineup vs Sudan

With qualification to the knockout stage of the AFCON wrapped up with a game to spare, manager Augustine Eguavoen has hinted at giving fringe players in his squad a chance to show the stuff they are made of in the team's last group match against Guinea-Bissau on Wednesday, January 19.

The likes of Peter Olayinka and John Noble have not been included in the first two matchday 23s announced by Eguavoen and Henry Onyekuru who has impressed in training sessions was an unused substitute in both games.

Eguavoen has explained that he had little choice but to field the same set of players because he wanted to avoid taking risks especially as some players were new to the squad.

Sadiq Umar, Kelechi Nwakali and Olisa Ndah were yet to make their senior debuts before the start of the Africa Cup of Nations, and Peter Olayinka is still without a competitive cap for the national team.

Fullbacks Tyronne Ebuehi and Jamilu Collins have not been utilized mainly because of their late arrival to camp.

Asked if he was going to make changes to the starting lineup in the next game, Eguavoen said at the post-match press conference : "You are already giving a lineup which is good. I have been long enough with this team, as a technical director from afar but this is the closest I have been with this team, which is about three weeks now.

"We actually started with quite a number of players, to be precise 24 on the fourth of January and on the fifth we flew out.

"On arrival here nothing happened because we retired to bed at about 2am and then preparation started on the sixth, and on the 11th we are to be on the field , so that was why when you see the lineup in this first two games it's a little bit difficult to take risks.

"It's better to play with people that know themselves so that was why we maintained what we had up to this point in time.

"We made it clear to all the players everybody that has come here has a chance to play.

"Now coming to the next game with qualification secured, with a win on our mind as well I think we'll give a couple of players the opportunity to play "

Nigeria are guaranteed to top Group D of the Africa Cup of Nations regardless of the outcome of the meeting between Egypt and Sudan.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel