Nigeria's interim coach defends decision to snub Dessers and Arokodare who have scored 18 goals between them

Nigeria's caretaker coach Austin Eguavoen has defended his decision to keep Cyriel Dessers and Tolu Arokodare out of the Super Eagles squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification fixtures with Benin and Rwanda.

The duo have 18 goals between them so far in 2024-2025, with Dessers netting 10 goals across all competitions for Rangers while Arokodare has eight for Genk, thus the call for them to be handed call ups.

Eguavoen overlooked the Rangers forward and KRC Genk striker, opting instead to call up regulars Victor Osimhen, Victor Boniface, and Kelechi Iheanacho, while also recalling Real Sociedad's Umar Sadiq.

The places of Osimhen and Boniface have raised no eyebrows, unsurprisingly, based on their respective forms, but the inclusion of Iheanacho and Sadiq has.

The Sevilla forward is yet to register a goal in Spanish La Liga this term but has two in the Copa del Rey, while Sadiq hasn't found the back of the net across all competitions for Real Sociedad.

Iheanacho was handed a start against Benin but was substituted at half-time, having failed to impress, while Sadiq was an unused substitute.

Ahead of the game against Rwanda on Monday evening, Eguavoen explained in his pre-match press conference that he only called up players he has previously worked with, which is why Dessers and Arokodare were left out.

"One thing you guys need to understand is that these games come three to four days in-between, so I stick to people that I have worked in the past. 

"So when that opportunity comes, Nigeria national team belongs to everybody, for friendly games you know Fifa window.

"Of course, they will get their chance, but right now somebody I have not worked with before, now when I close my eyes and he speaks, I know he is speaking. 

"Somebody I have not worked with before, I will keep them aside but I am keeping a watch but not only him, many of them like that because we want the best for the country."

Dessers has six appearances for the three-time African champions but has yet to feature under Eguavoen while Arokodare has yet to make his debut.

Of the present center forward options in the Super Eagles squad at the moment, only Boniface has no previous working experience with the 59-year-old tactician before he was appointed the interim boss.

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid

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