Nigeria caretaker coach, Austin Eguavoen, has said the Super Eagles ought to have come away from Guinea with the maximum points at the weekend but for the absence of key players and the scorching heat the team played under in Conakry.

“This was a game we would have won, but then I was not in Guinea with my full squad with the likes of Mikel, Etuhu and Osaze not available,” revealed Eguavoen immediately after the Eagles fell 1_0 to their Guinean counterparts.

“We also had to play under the heat of 36 degrees which was really hot for the players who play their football in Europe.
“The uncertainty surrounding this game as well as ill luck also contributed to our defeat.”A fifth minute goal by Italy_based midfielder Kevin Constant gave Guinea a crucial victory.

The Syli Stars thus consolidated their leadership of Group B of the qualifying series for the 2012 Nations Cup. They have six points from two matches.

Nigeria are second on three points, while Ethiopia leapt to third place after they won 1_0 away in Madagascar, also on Sunday.

Eagles skipper Joseph Yobo also bemoaned the absence of key players but insisted they do not wish to dwell on the setback in Guinea, but rather focus on their subsequent games.

In March, the Eagles will welcome Ethiopia, while Guinea will be the guests of Madagascar.The overall winners of the group will qualify automatically for the 2012 Nations Cup to be jointly hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.