Super Eagles interim coach, Augustine Eguavoen says that he regrets dropping Chidera Ejuike from the lists of players that prosecuted Sunday's Afcon second-round fixture against Tunisia.
Fielding questions from reporters at the team's Hotel Le Ribadou on Monday, Eguavoen rued Ejuike's absence and posited that his presence would have gone a long way to swinging the pendulum of victory in Nigeria's favour.
Tunisia knocked Nigeria out of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations after Yousef Mskani 48th minutes strike caught goalkeeper Maduka Okoye napping to confined Super Eagles to their first defeat in the tournament
" Let me say this categorically that my biggest regret was leaving Ejuike out of the team. I did not even dress him at all, perhaps he would have come in to dazzle with his talent. I regret that honestly, he said.
Eguavoen then accept the blame for Nigeria's exit from the competition and pleaded with Nigerians to forgive and rally behind the players as Nigeria prepare for the final phase of the Qatar 2022 World Cup playoffs against the Black Stars of Ghana in March.
" Yes, I know emotion is high and Nigerian are not happy over the ouster. I can understand that, but I take responsibility for the loss. I want to appeal to Nigerians to be tactical with their criticism toward the players because it is the same players you will need to prosecute World Cup playoffs," he said.
Meanwhile, coach Augustine Eguavoen has debunked reports making the rounds that he threw in the towel as Super Eagles manager.
" That is the problem, I never said that I resigned as Super Eagles interim manager, I'm still an employee of NFF," he said