Super Eagles interim coach Augustine Eguavoen says his team would play Sudan’s Falcons of Jediane in their second group game of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with the utmost respect.

“We will approach them the same way we did against Egypt. They are a respected side and not a weak side at all. We will play them with the utmost respect,” Eguavoen said.

Nigeria would take on Sudan in their second Group D game of the AFCON, at the Stade Roumdé Adjia in Garoua on Saturday.

During the pre-match conference on Friday, Eguavoen told journalists that the Sudanese were not pushovers and would be treated as such, adding that consolidating on the victory against Egypt, was the ultimate goal.

On the tactics he would deploy against the Sudanese, the coach was rather subtle in his response, saying that he expected his opponents to raise their game and his team, to respond accordingly.

“As we studied Egypt, the truth is that it is never going to be perfect, but there will always be loopholes, and the ability to read the game and get a good result matters,” he said.

The gaffer showered praises on his team, adding that the difference between the present Super Eagles and the former, was about the freedom the boys now had to express themselves.

“The boys deserve a lot of credit and praises because when an instruction is given, they carry it out to the latter and they don’t need too many reminders.

“So that makes it a little bit easier, for me and the coaching crew.

“We haven’t actually done anything differently. It is the same personnel, but it is just about freedom.

“Confide in me but don’t take advantage of me being too gentle and everyone understands that, including the players and of course, the backroom staff,” he added.

On the hype of the Super Eagles being favourite to win the AFCON title, Eguavoen noted that it was too early to draw such conclusions.

“It is hard to say because it is a marathon. It is only the first game and like you all know Egypt are seven-time African champions,” he said.

(NAN)