Austin Eguavoen reacts to rumours he lobbied for Super Eagles job
Interim coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Austin Eguaven has reacted to rumours he lobbied to return as national team handler for the upcoming AFCON qualifiers.
Eguavoen also expressed his commitment to leading the team through the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda.
Eguavoen, who has served as the national team’s technical director since 2020, was called upon to take the reins after the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) negotiations with German coach Bruno Labbadia fell through.
In a recent media appearance, Eguavoen emphasised that he did not lobby for the coaching position but accepted the role out of a sense of duty and a desire to give back to Nigerian football. “I’m a member of the federation, working as the technical director,” Eguavoen explained. “When a situation like this comes, you can’t say no. It’s a task I have to perform. It’s a duty that falls under my responsibility. And the fact that the hierarchy of the federation feels I can salvage the situation—why not?”
Eguavoen, who has managed the Super Eagles in three previous stints, including leading the team at the AFCON in 2021, will oversee the squad during this crucial international break. Despite the team’s recent struggles, with only one win in their last four matches, Eguavoen remains optimistic about their chances in the qualifiers.
“Nigeria is a nation that a lot of countries respect, and there is no difference in this one,” Eguavoen said confidently. “I am very confident that we will scale through these two games and beyond. We have the materials, we have the players, and we have the personnel and the support.”
As the Super Eagles prepare to face the Cheetahs of Benin Republic on September 7th and the Amavubi of Rwanda on September 10th, Eguavoen believes the team still possesses the quality that nearly led them to AFCON glory earlier this year. “The only thing we have to remind these players about is that they were almost African champions months ago. It is not even a year yet. So what went wrong? So it is still them. We will do everything we have to do as the technical crew, and of course, the Federation and Nigerians will rally around them. They are the ones to turn the table around.”
