Nigeria boss Eguavoen performs down influence of Rwanda defeat

Nigeria interim coach Augustine Eguavoen insists yesterday’s shock defeat at dwelling to Rwanda could have no bearing on their World Cup conflict in March.

With AFCON qualification already secured, Eguavoen made modifications to his line-up with the likes of Victor Osimhen unnoticed of the beginning XI.

These hoping to impress failed the audition, although, as Rwanda got here from a aim right down to win 2-1 in Uyo.

Substitute Samuel Chukwueze gave the house facet the lead simply earlier than the hour mark however targets from Ange Mutsinzi and Harmless Nshuti turned the sport round.

We’re disenchanted to have ended our nice run within the Afcon 2025 qualifiers with a house loss. We’ll bounce again. Thanks for all of your assist via the qualifiers and see you in Morocxo. #soarsupereagles pic.twitter.com/XkAGqwTNr9

— 🇳🇬 Tremendous Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) November 18, 2024

The groups meet once more in 4 months’ time in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup however Eguavoen dismissed the notion the end result had given Rwanda a psychological edge.

He mentioned: “This received’t have an effect on [Nigeria for the World Cup qualifiers].

“We now have learnt a tough lesson, we are going to consider and have the methods to face them.”

We have been under customary – Eguavoen

Eguavoen admitted his crew have been poor on the day and deserved little from the sport, including: “We have been under customary. And I really feel very unhappy. This end result was not what we deliberate for. We scored and have been pushing for a second aim, however, fairly in opposition to the run of play, we conceded. I attempted to alter the formation, however it didn’t work.

“This stuff occur on sure days, and at the moment was a kind of days. Once we conceded the second aim, I made modifications by introducing two strikers, but it nonetheless didn’t work.”

Struggling strikers

Strikers Kelechi Iheanacho and Victor Boniface each struggled to make an influence however Eguavoen backed them to return good.

On Sevilla’s Iheanacho, he mentioned: “He’s an asset, however he has not been residing as much as expectations, he wanted some encouragement.

“I spoke to him personally. There was strain on him, however he couldn’t deal with it.”

On Bayer Leverkusen star Boniface, he added: “He’ll stay a part of the squad.

“We all know what he’s able to doing, however it hasn’t labored with the Tremendous Eagles.”