Ajibade Olusesan 
- I’m still in charge, coach insists
- Retain ‘Nigerian Ancelotti’, Mikel tells federation
Interim manager, Austin Eguavoen, may not not be considered as the substantive coach of the Super Eagles as the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) steps up the chase for a permanent handler of the national team.
Eguavoen, currently serving as interim coach, led the Super Eagles to a 3-0 victory over Benin Republic and a goalless draw against Rwanda in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
While these performances have earned him praise from players, ex-internationals, and fans alike, the NFF is yet to confirm whether he will be given the role permanently.
Eguavoen who is the Technical Director at the NFF was drafted to handle the Eagles when the negotiation with Germany’s Bruno Labbadia broke down and sources close to the Federation suggest that the NFF is keen on hiring another foreign manager, believing that an international coach with European experience could bring a fresh approach to the team.
This pursuit has cast doubt over Eguavoen’s tenure, despite his recent achievements and deep understanding of Nigerian football.
The Minister of Sports, John Enoh in an interview with Arise TV monitored by our correspondent on Tuesday, alluded to the fact that the NFF is still working on getting an expatriate but former Eagles captain Mikel Obi said Eguavoen should be handed the opportunity to handle the side.
Mikel, who was handed his Super Eagles debut by the ex-international, claimed his ability to deliver on short notice is worth considering. “Eguavoen was the manager who coached me as a kid at U17, he took us to the World Cup, he is fantastic guy.
He is a manager who gives you all the reasons in the world to express yourself,” he said on the Obi One Podcast , monitored by our correspondent yesterday. “He reminds me so much of Carlo Ancelotti, no jokes, he reminds me of Carlo, his man management is top.
He speaks to players really well, he is so humble, puts his arms around you and gets you on his side. “He came in on short notice and got the team playing well, you can’t change so much or teach them so much in a short space of time. It’s about communication and man management, and I saw that in the game,” he added.
“I hope he does well and gets it permanently, there’s nothing bad in appointing a home-based coach, it didn’t work with Finidi, but I think Eguavoen deserves a shot. If he gets it, fair play.”
Report emerged shortly after the goalless draw with Rwanda, suggesting that Eguvoen had resigned but the coach debunked the news. “Whatever people are reading out there is not correct, I am still in charge,” Eguavoen clarified on arrival in Nigeria from the match in Rwanda.
“I am the Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation saddled with the responsibility of taking the Super Eagles at this moment and that is where we are.”
He added: “I only said that I am going to sit down with the hierarchy of the federation after these two games and see how we prosecute the next games. “It’s quite unfortunate that people trigger what is not correct and in the situation we’re in we don’t need negative stories.”
