By Vitus Michael

Super Eagles coach, Augustine Eguavoen will hand starting belts to to players who have not had their chance in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations AFCON last Group D match against Guinea Bissau.

The Eagles booked their place in the last 16 after beaten Sudan 3-1 on Saturday Wich coach Augustine Eguavoen disclosing that he will give other players opportunity against the first team that played the two matches against Egypt and Sudan.

Eguavoen kept faith with the same line-up in his side’s victories over Egypt and Sudan but explained that his decision to retain the same squad for the games was due to the short time he had to prepare the team for the tournament.

But with knockout stage qualification in the bag, Eguavoen, nicknamed Cerezo, is now ready to bring in fresh faces against the Bissau-Guineans.

“I didn’t want to take the risk, which was why I retained the same starting line-up,” Eguavoen told Punch.

“Coaching of this team started on January 6 and it was difficult to take the risk because it was better to play with a team that has been together for some time.

“We banked on players that knew themselves. Everybody in this team has a chance to play in this tournament, so with qualification secured, we will be giving some players the opportunity to play in the next game.”

Peter Olayinka, Henry Onyekuru, Francis Uzoho, John Noble, Daniel Akpeyi, Tyronne Ebuehi, Frank Onyeka, Jamilu Collins and Olisa Ndah are yet to make an appearance in the tournament.

Nigeria will take on Guinea Bissau on Wednesday in last group D match by 7pm