Augustine Eguavoen led Nigeria’s Super Eagles as they tackled Benin Republic and Rwanda in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, qualification games earlier this month.
The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, had appointed Eguavoen as interim coach of the Super Eagles to oversee both matches which Nigeria won 3-0 against Benin Republic and drew 0-0 against Rwanda.Eguavoen’s appointment came after the NFF failed to get a substantive coach for the Super Eagles.
Newsmen reports that the football powerhouse recently failed in their attempt to appoint German tactician, Bruno Labbadia as head coach of the Super Eagles.
The NFF is however still searching for a foreign coach to lead the team in the near future.
But following Eguavoen’s first two matches as interim coach, former Super Eagles midfielder, John Ogu, urged the NFF to retain the 59-year-old as head coach of the senior national team.
In a tweet on his X account, Ogu said: “Dear @thenff, Please keep coach @coacheguavoen. Give him time to keep building the team moving forward,” Ogu tweeted.
Also, former Super Eagles media officer, Toyin Ibitoye, advised the NFF to continue with Eguavoen as the head coach of the national team.
According to Ibitoye, the NFF should stop searching for a foreign coach to manage the Super Eagles at the moment.
“Dear @thenff, Please keep your search for a foreign coach for the @NGSuperEagles in the cooler for a bit longer,” Ibitoye wrote on X.
“Let’s buy some time. Let’s see what @coacheguavoen and the team will cook for us in October and maybe in November #SoarSuperEagles.”
Similarly, former Super Eagles captain, John Obi Mikel praised Eguavoen for his ability to get the best out of his players.
Obi Mikel, who played under Eguavoen at the U-17 level before graduating to the U-20 side, said on Obi One Podcast: “I know the interim manager now, Augustine Eguavoen, who managed me when I was a kid. U-17, he was my coach, took us to the World Cup.
“I know the interim manager now, Augustine Eguavoen who managed me when I was a kid. U17, he was my coach, took us to the World Cup,” he said on Obionepodcast.
“Fantastic guy, lovely guy, a manager who gives you all the freedom in the world to express yourself, speaks to you really well.
“He reminds me so much of Carlo Ancelotti, no jokes about that, his man management is top. He speaks to players really well. He is so humble. He communicates with players really well, puts his arm around you.
“He gets his players on his side, that’s so important. You could see coming in short notice and getting the team to play so well. You can’t teach them so much in such a short space of time.”
On his part, Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong rooted for an indigenous coach to lead the team.
“I have always said that having a coach from Nigeria is an advantage. Someone who has been in our shoes and understands what we are going through can bring that experience to the team,” the former Watford defender said.
Should Eguavoen be appointed as permanent head coach of the Super Eagles?
Speaking with Newsmen on Monday, respected journalist, Femi Fabunmi, said: “The NFF should decide on what to do as soon as possible. I want to believe that the plan to employ a foreign coach is still very much in place.
“However, if that is not going to happen at this point in time, then we can go for Eguavoen as the last resort.”
Fabunmi added, “In a scenario where we can afford to hire a foreign coach that knows his worth, then we should do it without any further delay.
“Eguavoen has been there before and we all know how it ended.“Eguavoen had always started well but on few occasions, failed to get the desired results.“One example is the Cameroon 2021 AFCON, where we won all our group stage games but lost to Tunisia when it mattered most.”“I think he has done well as the technical director of the team, the NFF should try and get us a foreign coach that will take the Super Eagles to football eldorado,” he further stated.