Super Eagles interim handler, Austin Eguavoen, has confessed that the October 10 battle against Guinea in the race to Gabon/Equitorial Guinea 2012 African Cup of Nations is one that is making him grow some grey hairs.

The Edo born tactician said he would ordinarily not be losing sleep over the Guineans, but for the attitude and commitment level of his players, which he noted is nothing to write home about.

Eguavoen, who opened up exclusively to Daily Sunsports at the Eagles Tinapa Lodge in Calabar after the 2-0 victory over Madagascar said he was not impressed with the commitment level of the players insisting that it is a big problem that could see the team crumble like a pack of card in Conakry.

He noted that the Guinean players would approach the game as if their lives depend on it, especially after their five star performance away in Darussalam, where the Syli Nationales’ defeated Ethiopia 4-1.

“Ordinarily one shouldn’t be afraid of Guinea. We’ve got better players and a higher soccer pedigree, but it doesn’t start and end there. If you have 11 Maradonas who are not ready to play out their hearts, then you will be in trouble. Our attitude to the game is a big problem. It manifested in our game against Madagascar and for me, the big worry is how to get the players play with a higher level of commitment.

We need to be more aggressive and hungry for goals. If we step up our game, we can beat Guinea with ease . We just can’t keep struggling with every opponent. Fine, we won against Madagascar, but the truth is that we struggled in the second half.

In Conakry, I see the Guineans playing as if their lives depend on the match and the game is such a crucial one which we can’t afford to lose if we must not struggle to qualify for the Nations Cup.” Eguavoen , however, expressed optimism that the Eagles will get better with every game, even as he noted that it takes time to build a solid team.

“We are just fresh from the World Cup and trying to build a new team. I can’t build one over night. It is a gradual process, especially when one is trying to inject some new legs into the team.” It would be noted that five home-based players got Eguavoen’s nod to taste action in the game against Madagascar with Enyimba’s Valentine Nwabili being in the starting line up.



http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/sportsonthehour/2010/sept/24/sportsbreak-24-09-2010-001.htm