Pinnick was in the dressing room to encourage the Super Eagles at half time, during the wins against Egypt and Sudan
By Kehinde Okeowo
Super Eagles gaffer, Austin Eguavoen has barred Amaju Pinnick, the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), and other guests from the Eagles’ dressing room during half-time breaks.
Pinnick was in the Super Eagles’ dressing room at halftime to motivate them during the encounters against Egypt and Sudan, in the group stages of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
However, Pinnick was conspicuously absent during the last game against Guinea-Bissau, in which Nigeria won 2-0 to earn the maximum 9 points in Group D.
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Ahead of Sunday’s Round of 16 clash against Tunisia, Eguavoen has assured that Pinnick and other guests will not be allowed into the Eagles’ dressing room when the coaches are discussing tactics at the halftime break.
He said, “We talked about timing and I am still talking about it. It’s our culture – motivation is good.
“Guests can have short discussions with the team at the restaurant and not inside the dressing room.
“Against Egypt was the only time when Pinnick and the Air Peace president came to see the team and it was five minutes.
“In the second and third games, no one came to see the team. I don’t think this will happen tomorrow (Sunday).”
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles coach, Eguavoen in a recent interview told CAF Online that the Eagles’ North African opponent Tunisia, deserves a place at the AFCON quarter-finals because they also qualified for the knockout stages.
“Tunisia deserved to qualify [for quarter-final, and we respect each other.
“We both have the same target, which is to win and qualify. We will continue to work in the same way,” he said
