'Nobody will tell me they're pushovers' - Eguavoen says Eagles won't look down on Guinea-Bissau

Published: January 17, 2022

Nigeria's caretaker boss Augustine Eguavoen has vowed that the Super Eagles won't look down on Guinea-Bissau when both nations face off at the Roumdé Adjia Stadium, Garoua on Wednesday evening.

Heading into the matchday three fixture, the three-time African champions are guaranteed first place in Group D regardless of the outcome of the meeting between Egypt and Sudan, while Guinea-Bissau need a win to stand a chance of progressing to the last sixteen.

Eguavoen is expected to rest some of his more seasoned players against the Wild Dog and give a run out to some of the fringe players in his side.

"It is important for us to sustain the winning mentality while we keep our heads on our shoulders," Eguavoen said.

"Just as I told the boys after the match against Egypt, we are yet to win anything here except points. Guinea Bissau need the three points because they have only one so far and we must be prepared for a massive fight."

Eguavoen stressed that Guinea-Bissau were unlucky not to secure all three points in their opener with Sudan and felt they should have been awarded an equalizer that was cancelled late in their narrow 1-0 loss to Egypt.

"With a little more luck, they could have beaten Sudan and could have drawn with Egypt. That is the kind of opposition we face on Wednesday. Nobody will tell me they're pushover."

Eguavoen, 56, is the only man to have coached Nigeria to win all three matches in the group phase of the AFCON since the country started participating at this level since 1963.

Ferdinand Mbum