Posted by TONY UBANIreportingLive on
Coach Austine Eguavoen said yesterday that the experienced players who are nearing retirement age would not play for Eagles forever.
Coach Austine Eguavoen said yesterday that the experienced players who are nearing retirement age would not play for Eagles forever. 'I don't want to use the word ‘old players. I prefer to call them experienced players. If you notice, our backline was made up of young players.
My idea is to let the most experienced players seat on the bench and watch events. From there, they observe events so that when they come in, they go straight to fix it. That is why I prefer bringing the experience players in the second half. After all, they are not going to play forever for Nigeria. I am happy with the turn of events. The young players are rising up steadily and the experienced players are impacting a lot of knowledge on them.
It is a mixture of young and experienced players. I give God the glory. It was painful when I remember how we lost the semi final to Tunisia when they hosted. God has paid them back in their own coin. It is a game that could have gone either way. But, one must commend the Eagles for playing the game of their lives and reaping the fruit which is victory."
Asked why his players were reluctant in rising to play penalties, Eguavoen said that it was necessary because victory overshadows everything. 'I don't think it is necessary to answer that. We communicate with them.
They have to take instructions. The important thing is that we have won and are marching forward for the cup.
He thanked the millions of fans from Port Said who made the Eagles play at home in Port Said. 'I thank all Port Said people for the wonderful support they gave to us. I beg them to come with us to Alexandria for the semi final. They are wonderful people and we need their support. Nigeria loves all of you."