Super Eagles caretaker coach Augustine Eguavoen has left many Nigerians puzzled by his squad selection for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations doubleheader against Libya.
On Saturday, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) revealed the list of 23 players called up by Eguavoen, sparking widespread debate.
After a positive start to his temporary reign, with a win over Benin Republic and a draw against Rwanda last month, Eguavoen has largely retained the same squad for the Libya fixtures.
The only absentees from that group are Victor Osimhen and Olisa Ndah, both ruled out due to injury.
It’s clear what Eguavoen is trying to achieve: Coaches tend not to change winning teams. Retaining players ensures continuity and consistency. Any philosophy the coach is implementing is better assimilated when the squad spends more time together.
However, Eguavoen must remember that the Super Eagles are Nigeria’s national team, not a private-owned, small-town club battling relegation.
Some of the players he has selected are far from being the best available for their positions.
At least five players on the list have struggled with form, are not playing regularly for their clubs, or are featuring in leagues considered inferior to Nigeria’s.
For instance, how can Eguavoen justify the inclusion of a goalkeeper from the Ethiopian league in the Super Eagles squad for an AFCON qualifier?
This decision mirrors former coach Finidi George, who invited a defender from the Tanzanian league for a World Cup qualifier — a move that ultimately contributed to his premature exit.
The question is: how do you keep the national team competitive when you reward inconsistent players with consistent call-ups?
Nigeria boast top defenders in leagues such as Turkey and France, yet Eguavoen has called up a player from the English third division.
Kelechi Iheanacho, who hasn’t scored a goal for club or country in 2024, is also included ahead of in-form strikers like Cyriel Dessers, Chuba Akpom, and Josh Maja.
Notably, Eguavoen didn’t give Iheanacho a single minute in the games against Benin and Rwanda. So why call him up again if his contribution is likely to remain minimal?
Similarly, Samuel Chukwueze has spent more time on the bench at AC Milan than on the pitch.
The 25-year-old winger has not registered a goal or an assist for club or country this year. Yet, he remains Nigeria’s first-choice right winger, with no apparent effort to find an alternative.
Nathan Tella of Bayer Leverkusen, for instance, has been overlooked, despite his potential to impress in that role.
Then there’s Taiwo Awoniyi. The Nottingham Forest striker has been battling injuries and is struggling to regain his place in the Premier League team.
What Awoniyi needs right now is time to fully recover, not a call-up to the national team. A top striker from the NPFL could have been selected instead, giving Awoniyi the chance to focus on his fitness.
Not all of Eguavoen’s decisions are questionable, though.
The recall of Sevilla forward Chidera Ejuke is a positive move.
Ejuke has been outstanding in La Liga, making headlines for his impressive dribbling stats, which place him among the best in Europe.
However, while Ejuke is an entertainer, he must be integrated into the team’s overall strategy. He primarily plays as a left winger, a position already occupied by Moses Simon and Ademola Lookman.
It will be interesting to see how Eguavoen manages his wide options.
Eguavoen could take a leaf from former Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr’s playbook.
Rohr had a firm principle: players must be featuring regularly for their clubs to earn a national team call-up.
This approach helped Rohr enjoy success and become the longest-serving Super Eagles coach, guiding Nigeria to the World Cup.
Many are calling for Eguavoen to be handed the Super Eagles job permanently.
However, to truly prove his worth, Eguavoen must make tough decisions for the betterment of the team, even if it means upsetting certain players or fans.