Super Eagles Interim Coach Eguavoen Names 2 Players Nigeria Will Definitely Miss At AFCON

• Nigeria will be without Victor Osimhen and Emmanuel Dennis at AFCON 2021 and Augustine Eguavoen has described their absence as a big miss
• The Super Eagles interim coach admits he will have to change Nigeria’s style of play in the absence of the two players
• Nigeria will slug it out against the Pharaohs of Egypt on Tuesday, January 11, in Group D’s opener

Super Eagles interim coach Augustine Eguavoen has described Victor Osimhen and Emmanuel Dennis' absence from Nigeria’s squad for AFCON 2021 as a big miss.

While Osimhen was dropped owing to injury concerns and having contracted Covid-19, Dennis, who has been in good form, could not make the team’s camp after he was allegedly denied permission by Watford.

This forced Eguavoen to make changes in his final 28-man squad with Olympiacos’ Henry Onyekuru and Slavia Prague’s Peter Olayinka summoned to take replace Osimhen and Dennis.

Nigeria also suffered setbacks in the defense as both Leon Balogun and Shehu Abdullahi picked up injuries and were replaced by West Bromwich Albion's Semi Ajayi and Venezia’s Tyronne Ebuehi.

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As Nigeria get ready to face Egypt in their first game at the competition, Eguavoen hinted at a potential formation switch during the tournament due to the absence of key players.

“The only thing is to change the style of play because the personnel is not there as we expected.

"Definitely Victor Osimhen is a big miss, Emmanuel Dennis is in form, also a big miss,” Eguavoen said as quoted by Allnigeriasoccer and cited on Goal.

Super Eagles Camp Bubbles as 23 Players Hit Camp for AFCON

Earlier, Sportsbrief had reported that Nigeria’s preparation for this month’s African Cup of Nations is hitting top gear as Kelechi Iheanacho is the latest player to hit the Super Eagles training camp in Abuja.

Iheanacho linked up with the team on Tuesday morning, January 4, making the total number of players in camp rise to 23 according to the Media officer of the team Babafemi Raji.

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The Leicester City forward linked up with the likes of fellow club mate Wilfred Ndidi, Kenneth Omeruo, William Troost-Ekong, Semi-Ajayi, Ola Aina, Alex Iwobi, Kelechi Nwakali, and Frank Onyeka who all joined up with the squad earlier in the day.

Other players already in camp include captain Ahmed Musa, Taiwo Awoniyi, Sadiq Umar, Maduka Okoye, Peter Olayinka, John Noble, Henry Onyekuru, and Moses Simon.

Zaidu Sanusi, Francis Uzoho, Chidozie Awaziem, Chidera Ejuke, Daniel Akpeyi, and Olisa Ndah complete the list of 23 in the Super Eagles camp.

Players still expected to hit the Super Eagles training base in Abuja include Rangers midfielder Joe Aribo, Samuel Chukwueze, Jamilu Collins, Tyrone Ebuehi, and Odion Ighalo.