One-goal win against Libya, huge relief for us – Eguavoen

Akpan Umoh, Uyo

Super Eagles Coach Augustine Eguavoen has described the one-goal win against the Mediterranean Knights of Libya in the Totalenergies AFCON Qualifiers as a huge relief to him and his players.

Eguavoen, who was highly excited during the post-match briefing at the Godswill Akpabio International stadium in Uyo on Friday said he expected his players to have scored more goals.

The Super Eagles played goalless with the Mediterranean Knights in the first 45 minutes and until Dele Bashiru came to their rescue in the 87 minutes in the second half.

The Super Eagles coach said the Mediterranean Knight’s tactics robbed his team of their goals, as they played defensive throughout the first half of the match.

Eguavoen, however, thanked God for the victory which gave the team three points, giving the Super Eagles seven points and standing tall in Group D.

He acknowledged that the Super Eagles players played well, but they would score more goals for the Mediterranean Knights tactics.

“Emotions were high, and when the goal came, it was a huge relief. We should have scored more goals but the tactics that they deployed were compact as they defended in numbers when the ball was in their goal.

“We were a bit slow in the first half, but the boys picked up in the second half and ball circulation became faster as instructed. The last 25 minutes was better,” Eguavoen said.

Eguavoen promised to re-strategise and put a more formidable team in their return match in Libya next week.

Super Eagles Captain, William Ekong assured Uyo fans that the team would qualify to play in Totalenergies AFCON Morocco 2025.

He said the players would be more clinical in their approach to the march in Libya next week.

In his post-match briefing, the Coach of Mediterranean Knights, Nasser Al-Hadri, said he was happy with the outcome of the match, stressing that the players would do better at home.