Former Super Eagles captain and NFF Technical Director, Augustine Eguavoen has described CHAN Eagles captain Nduka Junior’s move to Iraqi club Erbil FC as financially motivated and suggests it will have consequences.
Nduka featured in all of Nigeria’s group stage matches at the African Nations Championship before the team crashed out.
The CB had also led his club, Remo Stars to their first ever NPFL title; picking up a ticket for this season’s CAF Champions League.
His move to Iraq was confirmed on Monday, and Eguavoen insists all must respect the player’s decision.
“First of all, I want to say congratulations to the boy, he is a very good player, no doubt about that,” said Eguavoen on Brila Media’s breakfast show, ‘No Holds Barred with Ifeanyi Udeze’.
“I also know that the owner of Remo Stars will not stop any of his players from seeking new opportunities, so this was all down to the player himself.
“Honestly speaking, I think because of the club playing in the CAF Champions League, it would have been another market for him to showcase his talent, but who knows tomorrow, nobody knows.
“Him moving to Iraq is so obvious that the money will be financially satisfactory, the money he will be paid in the country will be more than what he was seeing in Remo Stars.”
“Life after football is very important. Again, you can’t compare the Iraqi league to our CAF Champions League. but from there, he could end up playing in Saudi Arabia, no one can tell.”
Eguavoen, the NFF’s TD, however hinted that Nduka’s move to Iraq will have consequences:
“We wish him well, hopefully we will see him back in the national team as fast as possible, but not when he is playing in Iraq.”
Eguavoen, who earned 44 caps for the Nigeria helped the Super Eagles qualify for their first-ever World Cup in 1994, while also winning the African Cup of Nations the same year.
He featured 13 times in the AFCON, made four World Cup appearances, and also played in the Confederations Cup and the 1988 Olympics for Nigeria.
The veteran defender represented clubs across the world, including teams in the USA, Spain, Russia, and Belgium, most notably KAA Gent.
