Interim head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Austine Eguavoen has defended the inclusion of Ogenyi Onazi in the Super Eagles squad for the World Cup qualifiers playoff against Ghana.
Onazi was named among the seven players on standby for the game which will take place in Cape Coast on the 25th of March and in Abuja on the 29th respectively. The winner on aggregate after both games will progress to the World Cup in Qatar.
Responding to questions from journalist on the reason behind the inclusion of the former Lazio man who was once upon a time vice captain of the team, Eguavoen said Onazi who now plays in the second division of Saudi Arabia wasn’t initially in his list.
He said he included the Al-Adalah of Saudi Arabia defensive midfielder on standby to pacify everybody but says he will have the final say on including him in his main list of players for the game.
“Onazi, good player. Whether he’s still good and can play at that level, we don’t know. But that’s why I said to pacify everybody, to ensure there’s harmony here, put him on the standby. While he’s on the standby, I have the final say”, he said.