- Augustine Eguavoen quits as interim head coach of the Super Eagles after two matches
- The coach’s brief tenure saw a 3-0 victory over Benin Republic and a frustrating 0-0 draw against Rwanda
- The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is now under pressure to appoint a permanent head coach before the next round of qualifiers
Augustine Eguavoen has reportedly stepped down from his role as interim head coach of the Nigerian national football team, the Super Eagles, following their goalless draw against Rwanda in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers. The news reported by OwnGoalNigeria has sent shockwaves through Nigerian football fans.
Eguavoen, who took over the team temporarily after Bruno Labbadia's contractual breakdown, confirmed his departure, stating,
“My mandate is for two games and it ends today. I appreciate my players and the NFF leadership.”
His resignation comes just days after guiding the Super Eagles to a 3-0 victory over Benin Republic before being held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Rwanda.
The former Nigeria international leaves the team with four points from two matches in the AFCON qualifying campaign.
Eguavoen's return to the Super Eagles bench was met with optimism based on his previous records and his well-known technical ability, especially after a convincing win over Benin in Uyo.
However, while some might have thought that the goalless draw in Kigali brought up concerns about the team’s finishing capabilities and the players' consistency, a factor that may have influenced his decision to step down, he claims he was only regarding his earlier agreement with the NFF. Nonetheless, his contributions to Nigerian football, both as a player and coach, remain highly regarded.
Throughout his career, Eguavoen has served the national team in various capacities, previously as the federation’s technical director. His brief stint as interim coach will be remembered for managing the team through a critical period of AFCON qualification.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will now face pressure to appoint a permanent head coach ahead of the upcoming qualifiers against Libya in October.
With Eguavoen’s resignation, attention will turn to finding a successor capable of leading the Super Eagles to secure qualification for AFCON 2025.
Fans and analysts are already speculating on possible candidates to replace Eguavoen, with the NFF (Nigeria Football Federation) expected to make an announcement regarding Eguavoen’s statement in the coming days.
"We have the materials, we have the players" - Eguavoen on Super Eagles' road to redemption
Previously, TheRadar reported that as the 2013 AFCON champions geared up to face a Gernot Rohr-led Benin side in their first qualifying fixture, all eyes were on the Super Eagles.
With just four days left before the encounter, the team would begin its quest for redemption after consistently woeful performances. Nigeria's interim head coach, Augustine Eguavoen, made it clear that they would fiercely defend their home ground.
