‘I’m Still In Charge’ — Eguavoen
Super Eagles Interim Coach and Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Augustine Eguavoen says there are no changes in the national team coaching crew and he remains in charge of the three-time African champions.
According to a sports website, OwnGoalNigeria, the former international had mentioned that his assignment from the NFF was limited to only two matches.
Eguavoen was further quoted as saying that his mandate was to oversee the Eagles’ matches against Benin Republic and Rwanda in the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The online platform reported thus; “I have been given a mandate to handle two games. I will want to say I am very pleased with the boys and again, thanks to the NFF leadership and all the boys who supported me in terms of discipline and working hard.
“It ends today, which is the two games mandate. I can’t talk about Libya, because I haven’t been told but I can talk about it a little bit in case we have another coach, we can talk about it.”
However, speaking on arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja in the early hours Wednesday, Eguavoen, who is popularly Cerezo by admirers, debunked claims that he has quit his role as the interim coach.
The Eagles’ handler told reporters that he was going to discuss with the NFF’s leadership on how to prosecute the remaining qualifying series.
“It’s quite unfortunate that people trigger something that is not correct and the situation we are in now, we don’t need negative stories.
“I only talked about how I will sit down with the hierarchy of the Federation after these two games and see how we will prosecute the next games.
“When I saw the story, I was kind of worried and concerned. Whatever people are reading out there is not correct. I’m still very much in charge as the technical director of the federation and saddled with the responsibility of taking charge of the Super Eagles at this moment”.
The NFF picked Eguavoen as the interim coach after German tactician, Bruno Labbadia rejected the role following both parties inability to reach an agreement on tax payment.
So far, Coach Eguavoen has led the national team to 3-0 win over Cheetahs of Benin before Tuesday’s 0-0 draw with Wasps of Rwanda in the ongoing 2025 AFCON qualifying series.
