Stand-in Super Eagles coach Austin Eguavoen has emphasized that representing Nigeria is a privilege, not a right, as he reiterated his open-door policy for all eligible players ahead of the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Libya.
The 59-year-old had unveiled his 23-man squad for the crucial doubleheader, which has sparked debate due to the inclusion of several out-of-form players while overlooking some in-form stars.
Despite the scrutiny surrounding his selections, Eguavoen staunchly defended his choices, asserting that every Nigerian with the ability to play football deserves the opportunity to represent their country.
“The Nigeria national team belongs to every Nigerian in the world that can play football. We cannot shut it down on anybody; we're trying to look for the best,” Eguavoen stated in an interview with Eagles Tracker.
Eguavoen: Super Eagles selection not something to be entitled about
Eguavoen's philosophy is clear; representing Nigeria is an opportunity that must be earned.
“Anyone who has a chance to serve his fatherland or motherland is not a right but an opportunity. So we have to seize that opportunity and make the best out of it,” he explained.
The Super Eagles coach also sent a message to his squad, encouraging them to embrace the competition for places. “The boys understand, I spoke with a couple of them, and because of not too much time between games, we’ve to understand that if you're called upon you're lucky.
“If you're not called the next time, it's not that you're not good enough, but we're trying to get the best.”
With this mindset, Eguavoen leads the Super Eagles into the doubleheader against Libya, starting with the first leg at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Friday, 11th October.
