Austin Eguavoen, the Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has denied rumors that he resigned as interim coach of the Super Eagles.
Austin Eguavoen was appointed by the NFF after the federation failed to secure German coach Bruno Labbadia, citing issues related to strict German tax laws.
In the first match, Eguavoen led Nigeria to a 3-0 victory over the Benin Republic in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, but the team was held to a 0-0 draw by Rwanda in the second game in Kigali.
Eguavoen, the NFF Technical Director, was mandate to oversee the Super Eagles’ matches against Benin Republic and Rwanda in the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
Speaking to OwnGoalNigeria at the Kigali Airport, Eguavoen was said to have stepped down as interim coach After Tuesday’s goaless draw with Rwanda in Kigali.
“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.”
“I want to be closer to the team as it should be and I can give inside story and inside information that we need to be able to overcome Libya. No team is a pushover anymore but with this spirit that these boys have exhibited and from what I have seen, we have a very bright future,” Eguavoen was quoted as saying.
But speaking upon his arrival at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, Eguavoen denied reports of his resignation, emphasizing that he remains the interim coach, particularly ahead of next month’s AFCON qualifiers against Libya.
He said, “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.
“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.
“But when I saw that story I was worried. Whatever people are reading out there aren’t correct. I’m still very much in charge. I’m the Technical Director of the NFF, saddled with the responsibility of taking the Super Eagles at this moment.”
KanyiDaily recalls that the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) recently revealed why German coach, Bruno Labbadia, will not become the new head coach of the Super Eagles.
