Austin Eguavoen, the interim head coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, has responded to critics who often highlight the number of times he has led the national team.
Eguavoen, 59, first took charge of the Super Eagles in 2005, shortly after retiring as a player. He was entrusted with the role following coaching stints at Maltese club Sliema Wanderers and Nigerian side Bendel Insurance. In his first spell, he guided Nigeria to a bronze medal finish at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt but was let go in April of the same year.
His second stint came in 2010, and his third in 2021, during which he led the team to the second round of the AFCON before losing to Tunisia. Eguavoen is now in his fourth stint, taking charge after the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) struggled to find a permanent replacement for Finidi George.
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Addressing the issue during an interview with Brila FM, Eguavoen acknowledged that he has coached the team multiple times but stressed that his tenures have been brief. “This is my fourth time coaching the Super Eagles, yes, but let people understand that I’ve never had a long run. In 2006, I had six months, and after that, it was either two or three games. In Cameroon during AFCON, I was in charge for about three months.”
Eguavoen questioned why some critics fail to consider the short duration of his spells. “Have I ever coached the team for a full two years? People need to be more reasonable in their criticism. The only extended period I had was in 2006,” he added.
Eguavoen’s current term started on a positive note, securing four points from two matches in the AFCON qualifiers. He is now preparing the team for a double-header against Libya during the upcoming international break.
