Interim Super Eagles coach Austin Eguavoen, has clarified that he was appointed to the role by the Nigeria Football Federation and did not actively beg or lobby for the position.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) appointed Austin Eguavoen as the interim coach of the Super Eagles last Friday. His immediate task was to lead the team in their opening matches of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Benin and Rwanda.
Austin Eguavoen stepped into the role following the resignation of Finidi George, who had only coached the team for two games. George’s tenure was marked by a loss and a draw in crucial World Cup qualifiers against Benin and South Africa.
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The NFF has faced challenges in finding a permanent coach to replace Finidi George. Candidates like Janne Andersson and Hervé Renard were considered, but ultimately, the federation announced the appointment of Bruno Labbadia. However, Labbadia’s tenure was short-lived, as he resigned just three days later.
This sudden resignation left the position vacant with little time before the Super Eagles AFCON qualifiers. While many Nigerians questioned the decision to appoint Eguavoen for the fifth time, he has defended his appointment, claiming that he did not actively seek or apply for the role.
“I’m a member of the Nigeria Football Federation working as the Technical Director. When a situation like this comes and you’re been called upon, you can’t say No,” Eguavoen said in a video posted by the NFF.
“It is a task I have to perform, it is a duty that falls under my responsibility, and for the fact that the hierarchy of the federation feels and think I can salvage the situation, why not?
“But one thing should be clear to the public, I didn’t ask for this, I didn’t lobby for this, I didn’t apply for this, it’s just God’s favour. It is something that I think I owe to football. The game gave me everything, name, fame, and everything I have today, and coaching the team is me giving back to football and my employers.
“When your employers call you to do something, there’s no way you can say no. Like I said, it’s not that I pressed for this it just happened. The circumstances we’re in now, I’ve been called upon to do this. I don’t have a choice, I just have to do it. All we ask for is a commitment from everybody to work towards the same goal and objectives.”
Eguavoen was first appointed as Super Eagles coach in 2015. He has since managed the team at different times in the decade.
