By Kayode John
Interim head coach of the Super Eagles, Augustine Eguavoen, has said his players can adapt to new systems and will counter whatever tactics Rwanda deploy in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier in Kigali on Tuesday.
The Eagles started their campaign to reach the next AFCON with three points and a clean sheet last Saturday, at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
Goals from Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen ensured Nigeria revenge their 2-1 loss to the Cheetahs of Benin Republic, who inflicted on them their only defeat in the Group C of the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign so far.
Eguavoen was appointed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to take charge of the matches against Benin and Rwanda as a caretaker coach, following a disappointing end to the effort to bring in Bruno Labbadia, to replace Finidi George.
Eguavoen, who also doubles as the technical director of the NFF, started the assignment with a win against Gernot Rohr’s side, and will face another test in German coach, Torsten Spittler, when the Eagles face the Amavubi at the Amahoro National Stadium in Rwanda’s capital city.
Speaking in a pre-match press conference on Monday, the former Nigeria captain boasted of the quality of players at his disposal, insinuating that their hosts would not escape defeat.
“We have quality players who can play different styles of football, different formations, different systems, so whatever formation or system Rwanda comes up with tomorrow, we have the personnel to deal with it,” Eguavoen said.
“Our country is full of expectations, it does not matter who we play, they expect us to win, we will respect but we will get result.”
The former defender stressed that there is mutual respect between the two teams, Rwanda, adding that he expected Rwanda to take their game to a higher level against the three-time African champions.
“They respect us, we do respect them also. We play people with utmost respect, you don’t look down on people these days because football has really improved and when you joke with it, you can get shocked but we will be on our feet,” he added.
“Remember, any country that plays against Nigeria, they always try to raise their game, so we have to be ready as all.”
