The hastily assembled interim coaching crew of the Super Eagles has been backed to do well in next Saturday’s international friendly against Mexico, megasportsarena.com reports.
The game is billed for Los Angeles, USA, but the Eagles’ main coaching crew led by Gernot Rohr and his assistant, Joseph Yobo will not be there, which has left the stage for Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) technical director, Augustine Eguavoen to dust his cap and return to the saddle.
It would be the first time since he left the Eagles’ head coach’s role five years ago that ‘Egu’ would get to work at this level once again, with former Flying Eagles’ coach, Paul Osahon Aigbogun set to serve his assistant.
Although the crew appears to be rag tag and jaded, they have received a strong backing from no less a person that Rohr himself, as the Franco-German tactician assured Nigerians that ‘Cerezo’ and Aigbogun are both experienced enough to make the best of the opportunity ahead of them.
He added that the crew will have the services of one of his assistants in goalkeepers’ trainer, Alloy Agu, who Rohr believes will be able to pass on some of the philosophy they have shared while working together with the main national team.
History suggests that the Mexicans are favourites to win the friendly as they have not lost to the three-time African champions with their full complement of players in five previous meetings., but the North Americans managed just one win in regulation time in those matches.
Rohr, though, added that it would be improper to write off the Eagles’ squad that will have only players from Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) on parade, and he posited thus: “The coaches are doing well, Austin and Paul with my goalkeeper coach Alloy, and selection will be okay.”
