NFF technical director Austin Eguavoen has disclosed that he sought the advice of Nigeria Professional Football League coaches before picking the 25 home-based players for Mexico friendly.
Eguavoen made the revelation following the criticism that trailed his selection of 25 NPFL stars which would be trimmed to 22-man squad before they depart for the United States.
The home-based players will battle the reigning Concacaf Gold Cup champions at the Los Angeles Coliseum on July 4, in the absence of Gernot Rohr’s men who will be at their European clubs for pre-season training.
The 55-year-old former Super Eagles coach will be assisted by former Nigeria U20 coach Paul Aigbogun in the dugout.
Speaking on how he went about the selection of the 25-man team, Eguavoen told the Super Eagles media; “When you give me a player from Enyimba, I ask Stanley Eguma, Ladan Bosso, Salisu and Maikaba. And if three out of the four speak well of a player it is okay. When you give me a player from Plateau I deviate from Maikaba and ask other coaches and they say the right thing about the player I just felt that’s the right way to go about it.”
“Everybody can’t be invited and my apologies for that. This is the first game, other games will come I might not be the next coach. If we have left some players out, they shouldn’t feel so bad. And before people do or say something, they should do their research.
“We submitted 35 names but we needed to cut it down because of the process of getting visas. The American embassy wanted a certain number of players to be submitted at a certain date. So it was a bit difficult, however, there are still more games to come and everybody will have their opportunity.”
