Confusion as Eguavoen quits and returns immediately as interim Super Eagles head coach

Drama and confusion are integral parts of Nigeria football and the latest is the report of Austin Eguavoen quitting his role as the Super Eagles interim coach only for the report to be dismissed a few hours later.

 Eguavoen was reported to have resigned by a media house shortly after their match against Rwanda in Kigali on Tuesday later dismissed the report that he has stepped down from his position, stating that he remains fully in charge of the Nigerian national football team.

Media reports claimed that Eguavoen had resigned from his role as the Eagles’ coach following their 0-0 draw with Rwanda in Kigali.

In response to the circulating reports about his alleged resignation, Eguavoen expressed concern over the spread of false information, stressing the need for focus during this critical period.

“It’s quite unfortunate that people just trigger something that is not correct, and the situation we’re in now, we don’t need negative stories,” Eguavoen said in an interview after landing at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, from Kigali.

He clarified that his earlier comments had been misunderstood and that any discussions regarding his future with the team would happen after their next set of matches.

“I only talked about how I’m gonna sit down with the hierarchy of the Federation after these two games, and then we’ll see how we go about prosecuting the next games. But when I saw that story, I was kind of worried and concerned,” Eguavoen explained. “Whatever people are reading out there is not correct. I’m still very much in charge.”

Reaffirming his dedication to the role, Eguavoen also reminded the public of his current responsibilities.

“I’m a technical director of Nigeria and Football Federation, saddled with the responsibilities of taking the Super Eagles at this moment, and that’s where we are,” he affirmed.

Earlier, OwnGoalNigeria claimed Eguavoen told the medium at the Kigali Airport, that he was given a mandate to oversee the Eagles’ matches against Benin Republic and Rwanda in the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, after which his task had ended.

He said, “I have been given a mandate to handle two games. I 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 reported to have said.

Eguavoen is not a newcomer to the Super Eagles coaching role. Before his recent outing, he last led the Super Eagles to a second-round finish at the 2021 Afcon in Cameroon.