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Former Super Eagles captain and assistant coach Joseph Yobo has hailed Austin Eguavoen’s attacking approach, recalling their time together during Nigeria’s 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign.
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Yobo, who worked under Eguavoen both as a player and assistant coach, spoke highly of the Nigerian manager’s emphasis on offensive play, stating it reflected the nation’s footballing DNA.
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“Eguavoen has never been a defensive-minded coach,” Yobo said, in an interview with The Guardian. “Even when I captained the team under him, he always encouraged us to build from the back. His approach was clear: Nigeria is known for its attacking style, and he mirrored that philosophy from his playing days.”
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Yobo lamented the misfortune that saw Nigeria eliminated from AFCON 2021 following a red card to Alex Iwobi in the second half of their match against Tunisia, a moment that shifted the game’s dynamic.
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“I thought we played some of the best football I’ve ever seen from the Super Eagles,” he remarked, pointing out that despite the team’s promising display, the absence of key players like Victor Osimhen affected their overall campaign.
Still, Yobo believes the current crop of Super Eagles is stronger, more experienced, and capable of carrying forward Eguavoen’s attacking blueprint.
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