AFCON 2025: Super Eagles Always Play To Win, Says Eguavoen

Super Eagles interim coach, Austin Eguavoen, has expressed confidence in his team’s ability to handle whatever challenges the Amavobi of Rwanda may present when the two sides face-off  in today’s matchday 2 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers. .

The three time African champions and 2023 AFCON first runners up are coming into the match after a resounding 3-0 victory against Benin on Saturday and Eguavoen is confident in the ability of his team to defeat any opponent, citing the exceptional quality of the players in his squad. .

“We play to win all the time, because Nigerians expect their team to win all the time. And because we have a team with great personnel, we play every team with respect but we don’t get intimidated by any. Our objective for Tuesday’s game is the three points,” Eguavoen said.

Also,speaking at the pre-match post conference at the Amahoro Stadium on Monday, Captain William Ekong said the team are united for the task of securing all the three points at stake against Rwanda.

“We are here for a purpose. With Coach Eguavoen, who has coached the team before, we all feel like a family. We will play for each other and go for the three points that will establish us at the top of the table.”

Today’s encounter is the first of four battles between the Eagles and the Amavubi in the next 12 months, with the two teams to clash in November in Nigeria in the final round of this qualifying race, and then do a home-and-away in the 2025 FIFA World Cup race with the Wasps also hosting Nigeria first in March next year.

Coach Torsten Spittler, a German, has roused the country of 13 million people to believe that the Amavubi can torpedo Nigeria, Libya and Benin Republic, and earn their first ticket to the Africa Cup of Nations since 2004. He flaunts an impressive record though, having led the team to win three of their last eight matches, drawing four and losing one.

Eguavoen confirmed on Monday that all 23 players in the Nigeria team abode at the Radisson Blu are fit and ready, meaning that goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali should be expected to start, alongside captain Ekong, Semi Ajayi and Calvin Bassey at the heart of defence, while Olaoluwa Aina and Bruno Onyemaechi will be wingbacks.

Wilfred Ndidi will possibly anchor the midfield that will have Alex Iwobi or Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, while Ademola Lookman, Victor Boniface and Samuel Chukwueze could still start at the fore.