Edo State Deputy Governor Comrade Philip Shaibu has lauded the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for sticking with the coaching duo of Augustine Eguavoen and Emmanuel Amuneke to tinker the Super Eagles ahead of the decisive FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Playoff against Ghana in March.
“ My first fear was that they (NFF) were going to bring the white man (Jose Peseiro) to coach the Super Eagles,” the sport-loving Shaibu said in Lagos at the weekend. “ It was a fear for me; but I celebrated when I heard Eguavoen will remain and over the appointment of Amuneke because I know they are professionals and I know they can work together.”
Shaibu likened the appoint of Eguavoen and Amuneke to the heady days when the Super Eagles was managed by late coach Shaibu Amodu and Stephen Keshi, adding the two must overcome innate differences in order to seal Nigeria’s qualification for her eighth Mundial after missing only the 2006 edition since her debut at the USA’94 finals.
The Super Eagles will expectedly face the Black Stars over two legs in March with the former Gold Coast hosting the first leg on March 23 in Cape Coast while the reverse fixture is slated for Abuja on March 29.
“Eguavoen has brought life back into the Super Eagles with the team’s performance especially in the first three matches at the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations(AFCON) in Cameroon and Amuneke has also proved he’s a good coach especially with the youth teams,” Shaibu continued as he offered tips on how to beat Ghana.
He added: “ I would implore the Super Eagles coaches to review the recent four matches of the Super Eagles at the AFCON ; those three matches we won (versus Egypt, Sudan and Guinea Bissau) and the other match we lost (versus Tunisia) at the AFCON 2021 before we play Ghana.
“ I have no doubt that if they correct our mistakes from those matches, we are going to beat Ghana to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar.”