'They will be very, very ready to compete' - Eguavoen on Nigeria's starting XI to face Tunisia

Augustine Eguavoen has stressed that his starting lineup to face Tunisia in a 2021 Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 clash on Sunday evening will be capable of competing against the north African giants.

The Edokpolor Grammar School product has explained why he made several changes to the team in the final group game versus Guinea-Bissau.

With a quarterfinal spot at stake this evening, Eguavoen is expected to revert to more or less the same starting lineup that beat Egypt and Sudan in their first two matches.

The 1994 Africa Cup of Nations winner didn't sound like a coach who is facing a selection headache despite a couple of fringe players impressing in the win against the African Wild Dog.

Speaking to reporters at Saturday's pre-match press conference, Eguavoen stated : "We made a lot of changes in the last game because we wanted to give everybody the opportunity to play and when the time comes for us to substitute we won't think twice.

"Now we know the level everybody's at and come tomorrow we'll come up maybe the same lineup, maybe a different lineup but whichever lineup we come with will be very, very ready to compete."

Nigeria are firm favourites heading into the fixture against Tunisia given that they are unbeaten in five previous meetings with the north Africans at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel