Social media users in Nigeria are pressuring the Nigeria Football Federation to keep Augustine Eguavoen as the Super Eagles’ head coach in light of the team’s recent strong results in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Before being held scoreless by Rwanda in Kigali on Tuesday, the team defeated Benin Republic 3-0 in Uyo on Saturday.
Nigeria now leads Group D with four points from two games thanks to these performances, giving the team and their temporary manager fresh hope.
Due to strict German tax restrictions, the Nigeria Football Federation was unable to hire German coach Bruno Labbadia. As a result, Eguavoen was named interim coach.
After taking over as interim coach in 2005, Eguavoen’s long and complicated connection with the national team continues with this most recent assignment.
During the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, the 59-year-old held the position of temporary coach. Nigeria showed potential in the group stages but lost the championship after a lackluster performance against Tunisia in the round of 16.
The team’s uneven results under his leadership have caused controversy among both fans and analysts.
The tactical adaptability of Eguavoen was shown in the recent qualifiers. He fielded a potent offensive squad against Benin that paid off. He made a bold substitution in the next game against Rwanda, starting Fisayo Dele-Bashiru instead of Alex Iwobi and, somewhat unexpectedly, Victor Osimhen from the bench.
The Rwandan game ended in a goalless draw, but the team showed that they were willing to attack. In the first half, Ademola Lookman had a goal disallowed; in the second half, Osimhen and Moses Simon almost broke the deadlock.
The Rwandan goalie, Fiacre Ntwari, made several excellent saves to deny the Eagles multiple opportunities, earning him the Man of the Match title.
Fans, many of whom view Eguavoen as a coach who can bring out the best in the current crop of players and who understands the subtleties of African football, have taken note of this resilience and tactical versatility.
The NFF is currently debating whether to value local knowledge over the attraction of a foreign coaching background, and requests have been made for him to remain in the team’s dugout permanently.
To further complicate matters, early reports said that Eguavoen had resigned following the Rwanda game, citing the conclusion of his two-game term.
But the coach made it clear when he arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja that he was “still very much in charge” and prepared to carry on in his capacity as the NFF’s Technical Director and the Super Eagles’ interim coach.
The discussion on his future has become more heated as a result of this clarification, with football stakeholders and supporters debating the advantages of continuity against the pursuit of a well-known foreign coach.
The question of who will be the team’s long-term leader looms large as Nigeria gets ready for the pivotal doubleheader against Libya in October.
Nigerian football supporters have reacted to this uncertainty and promise by expressing their thoughts on social media.
On X (previously Twitter), Oluwatoyin Ibitoye, a former Super Eagles media officer, expressed his support for Eguavoen by writing, “Dear @thenff, please keep your search for a foreign coach for the @NGSuperEagles in the cooler for a bit longer.” Let’s buy a bit of time. #SoarSuperEagles, let’s see what @coacheguavoen and the crew have in store for us in October and possibly November.
Numerous supporters agreed with this sentiment, with Buchi Laba tweeting, “Bringing in a new manager for the Super Eagles, foreign or local, is not necessary.” If Austin Eguavoen and his coaches are going through a trial, they all passed and ought to go on for the time being.
“NFF should for once give Austin Eguavoen a contract and stop using him as interim coach since 2005,” stated Oke Mmadu, in critique of the organization’s strategy. It’s disgusting.
“I never doubted him,” tweeted Femi Arya. We would still have Eguavoen as our coach if not for what transpired against Tunisia in the previous AFCON. Use those players, e-sabi.
Not every fan, though, is persuaded. Concerned about accepting mediocrity, Farooq, @Plug ox, posed the question, “How many more times does he have to fail before you acknowledge he’s not good enough? How many more world cups must we lose one after the other?
The discussion around Eguavoen’s future is probably going to get more heated as Nigeria gets ready for their upcoming qualifiers against Libya in October. The NFF must decide whether to continue looking for a foreign coach or to keep with the seasoned Eguavoen.
With increased fan support, Eguavoen continues to lead for the time being. Mrs. White said on X, “I really don’t know why it is always an interim thing,” in a very appropriate way.
The next few weeks will show whether the NFF listens to the fans and decides to stick with Eguavoen in the long run, or if they go elsewhere for the Super Eagles’ head coach position.
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