AFCON Qualifiers: Eguavoen has faith in Iheanacho but Libya faces preparation woes

• Eguavoen explains why he selected Kelechi Iheanacho despite his current goal drought
• Libyan coach Al-Hadhiri also expressed concerns about his team’s readiness due to key absences
• The Super Eagles top the group with one win and one draw

With the crucial AFCON qualifiers just around the corner, Augustine Eguavoen, the interim head coach of the Super Eagles, has shed light on his decision to include Sevilla's struggling striker Kelechi Iheanacho in the squad. 

Despite the striker's ongoing goal drought for both club and country, Eguavoen remains firm in his belief that Iheanacho brings invaluable experience to the team. According to him, the decision came in the wake of Victor Osimhen's injury, which left a notable void in Nigeria's attack.

While the decision is very questionable leaving out in-form forwards like Cyriel Dessers of Rangers and Tolu Arokodare of Genk both of whom have been impressive this season, it however remains to be seen if it is going to pay off going into the games. Dessers has netted seven times, while Arokodare boasts six goals for his Belgian side. 

However, Eguavoen explained that the selection was not solely based on the current form.

“I decided to include Kelechi Iheanacho of Sevilla when it became clear Victor Osimhen would not be fit in time, I considered both Cyriel Dessers and Tolu Arokodare, but I chose Kelechi because he is the more experienced striker.”

Conversely, Libya’s preparations for the upcoming matches have been far from smooth. Libyan coach Al-Hadhiri has raised concerns about the fitness and readiness of his squad ahead of the crucial double-header against Nigeria. The first clash is scheduled for October 11 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, while the return leg will take place on October 15 at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium.

Al-Hadhiri voiced his frustration over the absence of key players during early training sessions in Tripoli, admitting that their lack of physical preparation poses a major hurdle against a well-technical Super Eagles squad,

“We have not yet reached the required readiness to face a strong opponent the size of Nigeria, the team suffers from the absence of a number of players in the first training sessions, which led to difficulty in imposing a comprehensive tactical vision for the match,” he said.

Libya currently sits at the bottom of Group D, with just one point from two games. They opened their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Rwanda but faltered in their second match, suffering a 2-1 defeat to Benin Republic. Meanwhile, the Super Eagles topped the group after securing a 3-0 victory over Benin in Uyo and a goalless draw with Rwanda in Kigali.

Iheanacho explains the meaning behind his ‘senior man’ nickname

Previously, TheRadar reported that after securing a two-year contract with Sevilla FC with an option of a third year, Kelechi Iheanacho disclosed the story behind his nickname in his first official interview with the club.

Sevilla FC had earlier announced the signing of the Nigerian striker from Leceister City FC. The former Leicester City forward, whose contract expired at the end of last season, put pen to paper on a deal with the Andalusian club.