Eguavoen Keeps Faith With ‘Winning Starters’ Against Tunisia

Super Eagles’ interim coach, Augustine Eguavoen on Sunday opted to keep faith with the same 11 players that gave him his first victory at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

Megasportsarena.com reports that such it was that the Eagles’ former defender, captain and head coach went back to his ‘original’ starting 11 for their round of 16 clash with Tunisia.

That came in contrast with speculation that he could decide to look at some of the eight players that stepped up for the last group natch against Guinea Bissau and romped to a 2-0 win.

Prime among them was Everton’s Alex Iwobi, who twinkked bright down the right flank, and West Bromwich Albion’s Semi Ajayi in central defence.

However, when the squad list emerged some 30 minutes before kick-off in Garoua, ‘Egu’ went back to the original order of his winning starting 11 from the games against Egypt and Sudan.

That meant Emil Maduka Okoye was back in goal, with Zaidu Sanusi at left-back and Ola Aina on the right, while Kenneth Omeruo returned to pair William Troost-Ekong in central defence.

Leicester City of England icon, Wilfred Onyinyen Ndidi back in defensive midfield, behind Joe Aribo through the centre, Samuel Chukwueze on the right flank and rave of the moment, Moses Simon down the left.

That left Union Berlin of Germany striker, Taiwo Awoniyi seeking his second goal of the competition upfront and Leicester’s Kelechi Iheanacho following suit just behind him.

Eagles’ starting 11 vs Tunisia: Maduka – Aina, Troost-Ekong, Omeruo, Sanusi – Ndidi, Aribo – Chukwueze, Iheanacho, Awoniyi, Simon. … 4-4-2