Super Eagles head coach Augustine Eguavoen wants to persuade former Chelsea and Liverpool winger Victor Moses to return to international football with Nigeria at the 2022 Fifa World Cup. The 31-year-old, who plays for Russian club Spartak Moscow, quit international duty in 2018 to focus on his club career.
Augustine Eguavoen Contact Victor Moses to Return to International Duty
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president Amaju Pinnick and former coach Gernot Rohr have formerly attempted to bring the star player back but they were both unsuccessful in their attempts. Super Eagles‘ new coach Eguavoen, who succeeded Rohr in December, said: “We want the best for the country.”
He said: “Victor Moses is somebody I adore and I’m looking at ways of trying to get him in and we’ve spoken.” “He’s not part of these games [World Cup play-off against Ghana] but hopefully as time goes on because we want the best for the team. Eguavoen also said: “Whether we like it or not, Victor Moses will still bring some value. But right now he is playing in Russia, we all know the problems with Ukraine and Russia. I am happy to say that my conversation with him is settled.”
Fifa has announced that foreign footballers playing in Russia can suspend their contracts and temporarily leave the country. The world governing body announced as a result of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. Moses will face stiff competition from the likes of Samuel Chukwueze, Chidera Ejuke, and exciting new addition Ademola Lookman of Leicester City for a starting shirt in the team should he come back.
Eguavoen has named a strong 25-man squad for their two-legged play-off against Ghana, which is scheduled to be played on 25 and 29 March and will decide who heads to Qatar later this year. Moses previously represented England up to the Under-21 level, before switching allegiance to Nigeria and making his debut against Rwanda in 2012.
The former Crystal Palace, Wigan, Liverpool, West Ham, Inter Milan, and Fenerbahce winger has represented the Super Eagles at two World Cups, in 2014 and 2018.
