Nigeria's caretaker manager Augustine Eguavoen has revealed the real reason CSKA Moscow winger Chidera Ejuke wasn't named in the Super Eagles 25-man squad for the World Cup playoff with Ghana later this month.
Eguaoven earlier cited the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict as the reason for not including Ejuke in the main squad but the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations winner has backtracked on his earlier comment, insisting the CSKA Moscow dazzler fell down the pecking order of wingers due to the invitation of Premier League stars Ademola Lookman and Emmanuel Dennis.
One of Nigeria's best players at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations Moses Simon and Villarreal star Samuel Chukwueze have locked up the left and right winger roles respectively, making Ejuke surplus to requirements.
A shocking decision made by Eguavoen during AFCON 2021 was axing Ejuke from the matchday squad in the round of 16 clash against Tunisia, a move which later backfired on him as the Super Eagles needed a player with flair and creativity to open up the defence of the North Africans after going a goal down.
"Only 23 player will dress in a game and Ejuke wasn't listed among the 23," Eguavoen told Elegbete TV Sports.
"He didn't dress in that game, if he had dressed he would have come in because on that day he wasn't on the bench. You cannot come from the stand and then go onto the field, that's impossible.
"I have spoken to most of them, one after the other - the best position and the alternative position.
"Now as at today, Ejuke said the left side is one of his best positions. I've seen Ejuke, I still hold him close to my heart.
"I have spoken to most of them, one after the other - the best position and the alternative position.
"Now as at today, Ejuke said the left side is one of his best positions. I've seen Ejuke, I still hold him close to my heart.
"Now we've given opportunity to Ademola Lookman and then we have Moses Simon and on the right side Dennis has come back and then Chukwueze. If you look at it we are strong there."
Eguavoen sang the praises of Ejuke
in the weeks leading up to the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations and it was
thought the winger was going to play a key role for the Super Eagles in
Cameroon but he ended up making just one start in a dead rubber clash
against Guinea Bissau.
Ifeanyi Emmanuel
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