Eguavoen Gives Reasons for Bonke, Noble’s Call -Up

Omolosho Fatai

Super Eagles interim coach Austin Eguavoen has explained that he invited midfielder Innocent Bonke and goalkeeper John Noble to replace injured Wilfred Ndidi and sick goalkeeper Maduka Okoye for the 2022 World Cup playoffs against the Black Stars of Ghana.

Eguavoen said that the lack of defensive midfielder in the standby list necessitated invitation to Bonke who has been part of the national team set up to replace the Leicester City midfielder.

‘’If you look at the standby list, there was no defensive midfielder there. It is quite unfortunate that Ndidi is out but Bonke is somewhere in my heart and he has been part of the team in the past and so we invited him,” Eguavoen stated.

Also, he said that he chose Noble as a replacement for sick Okoye after he got clearance from Enyimba head coach, Finidi George and the club’s medical team that he was fit.