Former Super Eagles defender and Coach Austin Eguavoen has lauded the initiative of the Nigeria Football Federation over the appointment of former Eagles stars as Scouts.
The NFF had earlier announced the appointment of Former Players and Captains Austin Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu and Tijani Babangida as scouts for the National team ahead of the 2019 AFCON.
According to NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, the three legends will monitor the activities of the Super Eagles’ opponents leading to the finals in Egypt and report to Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr and will continue their assignment in Egypt during the championship.
“Okocha, Kanu, and Babangida served Nigeria meritoriously as players and we believe they have the capacity to excel in this particular assignment.
Okocha was a key member of the much –fancied Golden Generation, which qualified Nigeria for her first FIFA World Cup finals, won the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time on away soil and impressed in reaching the Round of 16 at Nigeria’s debut in the World Cup in 1994.
The flamboyant midfielder also captained the Super Eagles to the 2002 FIFA World Cup and the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations, where he was named Player of the Tournament. He played in three FIFA World Cup finals for Nigeria.
Kanu narrowly missed the cut for the 1994 FIFA World Cup, but captained the Nigeria U23 team to win Africa’s first Olympic football gold in Atlanta, the USA in 1996 and was a member of the squad that finished as runners-up in the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations. He also played in three FIFA World Cup finals for Nigeria.
Babangida was Nigeria’s alternate player at the 1994 FIFA World Cup but featured at the 1998 finals in France where he scored Nigeria’s only goal in the Round of 16 defeat to Denmark.
In his remarks, Eguavoen said it’s a good thing and a nice appointment by the NFF.
According to him, the trio will assist the coaching crew more with vital information compare to tapes.
“I’m not saying in totality the tapes are not good but physical appearance information is more preferable ”. He ended.
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