SUPER Eagles 2002 World Cup coach, Adegboye Onigbinde has expressed confidence in the ability of the present handlers of the team to fashion out a formidable squad for next year's Nations Cup. The controversy sparked by the list of invited players released Tuesday by the Nigeria Football Association not withstanding.

A groundswell of criticisms had trailed the 41-man list described as bogus and questionable in composition by a number of sports commentators and enthusiasts alike.

Onigbingde in his reaction to the list told The Guardian Coach Chukwu must have his reasons for extending invitation to the players listed.

In his words: "I have full confidence in Coach Chukwu's list. I'm sure he knows what he wants and the calibre of players he plans to invite must have been influenced by reasons best known to him. Certainly he has his strategy and it is only wise that he called those who he believes can fit into his game plan."

He added that this is not the time to start apportioning blame since the publication of players' list is just the beginning of a long journey, while calling on Nigerians to exercise patient and give their support to the Eagles' chief tactician.

But the 1984 Nations Cup silver medal winning coach was extremely evasive when prodded on the suitability of certain players, the desirability of Bitrus Bewarang as an assistant to Chukwu, and whether the technical crew can produce a championship winning squad from the list of invitees.

"Only Chukwu can provide answers to these questions. Once the coach says Bewarang will be useful in the pursuit of set objectives, it behoves on the NFA to get him what he need. He is the most competent person to say whether Nigeria can do well or not in Tunis," he explained.

The former technical adviser to the Football Association in Trinidad and Tobago however agreed that Nigeria is flagging off her preparations very late compared to virtually all the other countries expected to compete for football's most prestigious prize on the continent, next January. "Obviously, we don't have enough time to prepare," he quipped.

Prominent among the list of invited players are Captain Austin Okocha, Julius Aghahowa, Joseph Yobo, including a motley crowd of returnees such as goalkeeper Ike Shorunmu, defenders Taribo West and Celestine Babayaro, forwards Victor Agali, Tijjani Babangida and Garba Lawal.

The team, according to the NFA, will converge on a location in Portugal beginning from December 18 when they are expected to commence training in earnest for the assignment in Tunis.

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