Eguavoen tipped to handle Super Eagles against Mexico

THE Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation Austin Eguavoen is expected to lead the Super Eagles’ coaching crew to the United States of America for the friendly against Mexico.

The friendly takes place at the Los Angeles Coliseum in California on Saturday, 3 July.

The NFF has invited 25 players from the Nigeria Professional Football League for the match as it falls on a date when the players based in Europe will either be rounding off their vacations or in pre-season training with their clubs.

It has been suggested that Eguavoen will lead the team to California as head coach Gernot Rohr is unlikely to be available for the match.

Eguavoen is qualified to handle the team having been in charge of the Super Eagles in the past.

The former defender and member of the Africa Cup of Nations winning squad in 1994 was the head coach when the Super Eagles finished third at the AFCON in Egypt in 2006.

He also coached the U-23s to the African Championship in 2012 and has had spells as assistant coach of the Super Eagles.

Meanwhile, the 25 invited players held their first training session in Abuja on Tuesday with Rohr involved.

The team is staying at the Serob Legacy Hotel in Abuja to prepare for the friendly which Mexico are using to tune up for the CONCACAF Gold Cup billed for the United States from 10 July to 1 August.

Mexico are the holders and eight-time champions of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, North and Central America’s version of AFCON.