Eguavoen's right-hand man explains why Gabriel Osho, Victor Collins, Sadiq were called up for Afconq

Augustine Eguavoen's assistant, Daniel Ogunmodede has explained the rationale behind the invitation of Auxerre star Gabriel Osho, Real Sociedad striker Umar Sadiq and Nasarawa United central defender Victor Collins to the Super Eagles for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Benin and Rwanda. 

Fans and pundits alike have been left bemused by the invitation of 2016 Olympics bronze medalist Sadiq, who has been struggling for goals and playing time since the start of the 2024-2025 campaign.

Sadiq has been a shadow of himself since he recovered from a career threatening cruciate ligament tear that kept him sidelined for almost the whole of the 2022-2023 campaign.

As for Osho, the Reading academy graduate has been invited as cover for injured West Brom central defender Semi Ajayi, who suffered a hamstring injury in a match against Cardiff City and is scheduled to undergo surgery.

Osho was named in the Nigeria squad for their friendlies in March 2024 against Ghana and Mali but was not granted permission by his club's medical team to travel to Marrakesh due a knee injury. 

Daniel Ogunmodede revealed that Eguavoen scouted Collins before naming him in the squad. 

"The head coach has come up with a list, he discussed with us as his backroom staff. They are competent and capable to represent the country," Ogunmodede said.

"They are all familiar faces, apart from maybe Gabriel Osho that is new in the setup because Semi Ajayi had an injury and he undergoes surgery.

"Sadiq has been in the team for a while, he was also out due to injury. Now he is back.

"Collins, the head coach felt that we needed a left-footed centre-back, and presently in the league we have Collins that has to a reasonable extent proved his worth.

"This is to show that the head coach is doing a massive job. He has gone around the country to watch the league and in Victor Collins he has this utmost belief having watched him two, three times in the league.

" Possibly he is the strongest left-footed centre-back we have in the Nigerian Premier League."

Nigeria will battle Benin at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan on November 14, before facing Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo four days later.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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