Super Eagles interim manager Austin Eguavoen has called on the players to show their worth as Nigeria begins preparation for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers on Saturday.
Nigeria will take on Benin at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, and then fly to Kigali to face Rwanda three days later in what has become a redemption adventure.
Since the end of the AFCON in the Ivory Coast, where Nigeria lost in the final to hosts Ivory Coast, the Super Eagles have won only one of four matches.
At the resumption of the FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers, they drew 1-1 with South Africa in Uyo and then lost the next game 2-1 to Benin, who they face again this weekend.
Eguavoen: Onus on Super Eagles players to perform
Austin Eguavoen, who was picked to lead the team for these two games, has called upon the players to redeem themselves and show the spirit and guile that got them on the podium at the last AFCON.
The former Super Eagles captain, who was in charge of the Super Eagles at the 2021 AFCON, said the onus is on the players to make Nigerians smile again.
“The only thing we have to tell the players is that they were African champions some months ago – it is not even up to a year yet, so what went wrong?” he said.
“It is still them (the team), and we will do everything, the technical crew and the Federation, but they are the ones to turn it around.
I have spoken to them, and we will have a series of meetings before the game proper.”
When asked about his expectations for the two games against Benin and Rwanda, Eguavoen said he is confident his team will make Nigerians proud and do well.
“I am confident they will come out and do Nigeria proud. We will treat Benin with big respect, but this is our home,” he said.
