NFF undecided on Eguavoen future with Nigeria after concentration on Afcon
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has revealed it’s still uncertain if Augustine Eguavoen will be named Nigeria’s permanent coach even if he wins the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
With Gernot Rohr shown the exit door in December due to poor performances, NFF technical director Eguavoen was named on an interim basis to lead the country to Cameroon 2021.
As his contract stipulates, he will quit the role for Portuguese tactician Jose Peseiro after the 33rd edition of the biennial African football showpiece.
In the wake of the Super Eagles’ impressive performance at Afcon – where the three-time African champions won all three games – Nigerians have expressed their desire to see the 56-year-old continue in that capacity.
Even at that, the onus is on the NFF to grant that wish or stick with Peseiro – who had previously handled Saudi Arabia, FC Porto and Venezuela.
GOAL asked the NFF Director of Communications Ademola Olajire if the country’s football ruling body will ask Eguavoen to continue as head coach should he lead the Super Eagles to a fourth African triumph: he said: “We are taking things one step at a time and we still have four matches to play.
“It’s just another day, another team and another strategy.
“When that happens, the federation will also sit and look at the generality of all matters and come to a decision.”
Nigeria square up against Tunisia in the Round of 16 on Sunday and victory for them will see them face either Burkina Faso or Gabon in the quarterfinals.
Despite being coy on Eguavoen’s future, Olajire is bullish of the Super Eagles ability to lift the trophy for the fourth time come the final on 6 February.
“I am very confident because the team looks so good and so bold,” he continued.
“They are very innovative; six goals in three games is not bad. They create a lot of chances and when that happens, the team is bound to get a chance to move to the next state.
“In all honesty, this team has all it takes to go all the way to the final.”
In a related development, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele revealed that Cacovid (a coalition of private sector companies set up to fight Covid pandemic in Nigeria) will shell out the sum of $120,000 for the six goals already scored by the Eagles in Cameroon, and $50,000 for every goal in the Round of 16 clash with Tunisia.
Support for Peseiro
Augustine Eguavoen has backed the appointment of Jose Peseiro as his successor as Nigeria coach at the end of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Former Super Eagles captain Eguavoen, 56, had been working as the Nigeria Football Federation’s technical director before being asked to replace long-serving boss Gernot Rohr and fill in on the bench until Portugal’s Jose Peseiro takes over.
“I was part of the group that interviewed a couple of coaches and as technical director I was involved, which is a full credit to the NFF,” he said.
“It’s still up to the federation to decide. But if a contract has been signed we have to respect it.
“The only thing I can guarantee is that if Jose Peseiro comes in, we are going to have a very good working relationship. I know the terrain, he doesn’t.
“We have to provide him with the platform for him to be comfortable, relax and do the job. I will support him from the bottom of my heart 100%, because it’s not about me, it’s about the country.”
Under Eguavoen, the three-time African champions are dominating their opponents and playing with a freedom and flair that is translating to the fan base.
As the team continue to spread its wings in Cameroon, travelling fans and local media in northern Cameroon continue to chant the name of Eguavoen, and are urging the NFF to drop the idea of naming a foreign coach.
NFF president Amaju Pinnick has hinted that Eguavoen could retain the post should he lead the country to a fourth title, but the former Gent defender is not looking too far ahead.
“My mandate is to work with these amazing players and colleagues in Cameroon,” he told BBC Sport Africa.
“We have given the players the freedom to enjoy themselves and the fans a reason to believe in the team again.
“But we can’t pay attention to those calling us the tournament favourites now. I have no control over what happens at the end of this competition.
“Anything outside my mandate is not up to me and I just want to focus on the next opponent and take it from there.”
The former defender is in his third spell in charge of the Super Eagles, after managing the team from 2005-2007 prior to another stint as caretaker coach in 2010.
As a player, he won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations and represented the Super Eagles at the 1994 and 1998 World Cups.
