14th May, 2015
Former Super Eagles coach, Austin Eguavoen has called on football stakeholders in Nigeria to give returnee coach of the senior team, Stephen Keshi and his team the needed support to succeed.
Eguavoen urged Nigeria Football Federation, NFF and all football stakeholders to forge a strong alliance to launch Nigeria back onto the global football stage.
Reacting to the re-appointment of Keshi as Nigeria’s Chief Coach, Eguavoen said on Brila FM on Thursday that much could be achieved if the Eagles’ handler and his players enjoyed the fans’ support.
“The NFF has its problem, while the Super Eagles also have theirs, but we can put all that aside and work towards the same goal to achieve success.
“I think if we’re a bit more positive minded and work together we would achieve a lot. Keshi is sitting in the forefront now; he bears the responsibility, but if he makes mistakes hopefully we’ll learn from them for the sake of the coach, the team and more importantly the country,” said Eguavoen.
Meanwhile, with the date for the first leg of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers drawing near, former Nigeria International, Abiodun Baruwa has advised the handler of the Eagles to keep the old brigade together.
The former Eagles’ goalkeeper says the recipe for success this time around in the qualifiers is to ensure there is continuity and consistency in the team.
“The important thing with the national team is consistency and continuity. We have to keep the players together as much as possible, we can’t keep changing all the time, we must be focused, make sure the players are together and they know each other’s strength.
“That’s the much we need to do because we have the talent to take us to the summit of football, but the most important thing is continuity and togetherness,” said Baruwa.