Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Austin Eguavoen, has strongly denied rumors that he stepped down as the interim coach of the Super Eagles following the recent 2025 AFCON qualifiers against the Benin Republic and Rwanda.
Eguavoen, who was appointed to oversee the two crucial games after the NFF struggled to secure a permanent coach due to complications involving German coach Bruno Labbadia’s tax situation, clarified his position on his return to Nigeria. Labbadia’s deal reportedly fell through due to the complexities of German tax laws, leaving Eguavoen to step in for the qualifiers.
Under Eguavoen’s temporary stewardship, Nigeria secured a convincing 3-0 victory over the Benin Republic in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, last Saturday. However, in the second match, played in Kigali, Rwanda, the Super Eagles were held to a frustrating goalless draw on Tuesday, sparking rumors that the experienced coach had decided to resign from his role.
Following the draw, reports circulated that Eguavoen had stepped down as the interim coach. However, in a media chat upon his arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, Eguavoen denied these claims, affirming that he remains committed to the team as they prepare for the next round of qualifiers.
“It’s quite unfortunate that people just trigger something that is not correct. And the situation we are in now, we don’t need negative stories,” Eguavoen said, expressing his frustration over the false reports.
The 59-year-old coach went on to explain that he had merely discussed the need for a conversation with the NFF hierarchy to plan the upcoming AFCON qualifying doubleheader against Libya, but at no point did he resign.
“I only talked about sitting down with the hierarchy of the federation after these two games and we will see how to go about prosecuting the next games,” Eguavoen clarified. “But when I saw that story, I was worried. Whatever people are reading out there isn’t correct. I’m still very much in charge.”
Eguavoen’s track record with the Super Eagles has been one of resilience, having served in various capacities over the years, including leading the team to the AFCON tournament in the past. His extensive knowledge of the team, combined with his role as NFF Technical Director, has been pivotal in keeping the Super Eagles focused during these transition periods.
As the Super Eagles prepare for the upcoming doubleheader against Libya, Eguavoen emphasized the importance of unity and avoiding distractions, particularly with AFCON 2025 on the horizon. He remains fully committed to his dual responsibilities and urged the public to focus on the positives.
“We need to stay focused. There’s still a lot of work to be done. The team is growing, and we can’t afford distractions,” he concluded.
With the qualifiers set to continue next month, Eguavoen’s leadership and experience will be critical as the Super Eagles look to secure their place in the tournament and regain momentum. Fans will be watching closely to see how the team responds under his guidance in the crucial games against Libya.
