Despite skepticism, Eguavoen confident Our Boys will beat Ghana

After 90 minutes of fearless performance by a Black Stars team that on papers are minnow compared to Our Boys in Kumasi last Friday, optimism that Super Eagles will pick the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup ticket on a platter of gold has been replaced by pessimism.

Apart from returning to prayers and fasting every Nigerian is now a coach questioning Super Eagles interim technical director, Austin Eguavoen's credentials and competence.

But the man in the centre of the storm Eguavoen is calm or probably pretends to be calm about the Eagles' chances of qualifying.

For the embattled coach, all the Eagles need to do to win Abuja on Tuesday and be on the plane to Qatar is to take the game to the Black Star half.

 “We have to take the game to Ghana. We tried to take it to them in Kumasi but they were tough at the back, especially the defence. 

“But we had two, three clear cut chances we should have buried but we were not just calm enough in the box. But we will try to work on how we will try to give those final balls to our attackers to have easy passage to the goal.” Eguavoen said on NFF TV.

Eguavoen is not bothered about analysts’ criticism of our not too impressive performance in Kumasi, “Ghana team is not a team you can brush aside with one arm because they are a very good team. I have followed Ghana nearly all my entire career.

“The performance they put on was expected, [but] I would like to congratulate my boys, they were able to soak up the pressure and took control of the game in the second-half

“Again you know Ghana yes they were on top of their game, but they didn’t have any clear cut chances. But we had two clear cut chances. We should have won, but a draw I think we are okay.”

The Eagles handler singled out Black Star player, Daniel Amartey, for special praise, “he was good, he played very well to keep out our strikers but it will be a different story in Abuja.” 

Meanwhile, former Nigerian goalkeeper, Andrew Aikhoumogbe, has told Eguavoen the players he needs to start against Ghana when both teams clash in a 2022 FIFA World Cup second leg playoff.

 Aikhoumogbe wants Eguavoen to feature Odion Ighalo and Victor Osimhen in Super Eagles’ attack line against Ghana in the second leg.

“I was really impressed with the attitude of the players against the Black Stars of Ghana in Kumasi in the first leg. Despite the intimidating crowd, the players still composed themselves and could have scored with the few chances that came their way.

“With the second leg set for Abuja, I will advise Eguavoen to partner Osimhen with Ighalo because Ighalo’s experience will definitely come in handy. It will even take some of the burdens away from Osimhen and attention will be on Ighalo.

“I am confident the Super Eagles will get the job done in Nigeria and qualify for Qatar,”

 The last time Nigeria hosted Ghana in a World Cup qualifier in 2001, goals from Victor Agali and Tijani Babangida (brace) gave the Eagles a 3-0 win at the Liberation Stadium in Port Harcourt. 

The two teams had drawn 0-0 in the reverse fixture in Accra and the Super Eagles went on to qualify for the 2002 edition in South Korea, and Japan ahead of both sides’ 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Our Boys will play the Black Stars of Ghana on Tuesday at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja.