OPINION: Why Super Eagles players are at ease with Eguavoen tactics
As Super Eagles interim manager, Augustine Eguavoen stepped down from the team's bus ready for the day's training, one thing was paramount in his mind; he was determined to get his players out of their cocoon and see them unleash their God-given talents on Nigeria's opponents.
Looking so trimmed and immaculate in his usual training tracks, Eguavoen's stoned face does not define him, yet he came up with few smiles as he sauntered past scores of journalists who turned up for the morning light recovery session.
With the opening prayers completed, he got down to business and separated the players into possible and probable.
Then, he threw caution to the wind and came to his player's level, showing them how it is done. Once any player missed a pass, he stopped the game and urged him to repeat the pass over and over again.
The players would beam into ribs cracking laughter each time he perfectly translate his tactics into action.
The players seem to enjoy the feeling as training heats up. The players are beginning to see Cerezo as a gaffer with more clout and tactical savvy.
Everything Under Control
Qualification for the knockout stage aside, Eguavoen seems to have everything else under control.
The players are willing to embrace his new tactics that will require them to play as a unit; attack and defend together like the Spanish El Roja.
But the one thing he has not been able to do is to change the mood around the squad.
Where pessimism wore out, boundless optimism has taken over. And the former African champions are showing no sign of slipping up.
Eguavoen has brought in more beliefs by giving Joe Aribo the role of a playmaker and found a place for Taiwo Awoniyi and even experimented with a solitary striker rather than two upfront in training.
One thing that does not change is the results as Nigeria breezes past seven times champions Egypt and overpowered Sudan at the ongoing AFCON.
With the winning mindset installed here in Cameroon, the Super Eagles style of football has continued to be hugely impressive, the commitment to Nigeria's attacking game maintained.
But of course, Super Eagles are unbeaten since that shock reverse against Cape Verde in the World Cup qualifiers in 2021, and Eguavoen is eager to maintain that status quo.
Super Eagles are playing good football again, and it's no wonder Nigeria is one of the huge favourites to win in Cameroon-not just at the African Cup of Nations but becoming one of the five teams that will represent the continent in Qatar later in the year.
It's certainly no wonder that Eguavoen is struggling to keep his country's expectations in check.
He doesn't count his eggs before they are hatched.
