'They are all healthy' - Eguavoen provides fitness update on his starting XI vs Tunisia

Augustine Eguavoen was unwilling to disclose the identities of the eleven players who will take to theRoumdé Adjia Stadium, Garoua pitch for Sunday evening's Africa Cup of Nations round of sixteen clash against Tunisia, but claimed that the starters are in tip-top condition.

The Super Eagles legend made eight changes to the team that started against Egypt and Sudan in the final group game with Guinea-Bissau but will opt for his strongest possible starting XI for tomorrow's clash.

Joe Aribo and Ola Aina are once again available for selection after they were left out of the matchday 23 against the African Wild Dog as they were walking a disciplinary tightrope.

Former Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo has not been released by his Saudi Arabian club, making it 27 players Eguavoen can choose from for the battle of the Eagles.

"We're here with supposedly 28 but we're here with only 27 and everybody that has come on this trip is ready to play but at the same time we cannot play with more than eleven at a time," Eguavoen said.

"Now we have the eleven who will start tomorrow close to our heart and by the special grace of God they are all healthy and there are no preferences.

"Everybody that has come to this tournament with Nigeria deserves to be here at this point in time so whoever is called upon will definitely respond because my message always to the boys is you go out there do everything you can do, don't reserve nothing, one hundred percent commitment in terms of working hard.

"When you are tired just signal, come out, your colleague will finish the job for you so no preference for any player."

When the two countries met the last time in a friendly in October 2020, it finished with 1-1 with Mohamed Dräger cancelling out Kelechi Iheanacho's strike.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel