Augustine Eguavoen, Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has strongly advocated for a homegrown coach to take charge of the Super Eagles.
As the NFF searches for a permanent manager, Eguavoen believes a local tactician is better suited to understand the nuances of Nigerian football and resonate with the country’s passionate fanbase.
The Super Eagles have been without a permanent manager since Finidi George resigned following a turbulent tenure in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. George’s departure came after unsatisfactory results, including a 2-1 loss to Benin and a 1-1 draw with South Africa, h the NFF’s pursuit of a foreign coach.
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Eguavoen briefly took over and successfully guided Nigeria to qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). However, with the 2026 World Cup qualifiers set to resume in March, Eguavoen stressed the urgency of appointing a new coach.
“We need to act quickly to qualify for the World Cup,” Eguavoen told Kennis FM. He emphasized that the new coach must settle in fast to engage with the team and plan for the future.
While foreign coaches have been considered, Eguavoen remains firm that a local coach is the best option, saying, “We should stay at home for the choice of head coach. We understand the situation and feel the pulse of the people.”
The Super Eagles are currently in fifth place in their World Cup qualifying group with three points from four matches. They will face Rwanda in Kigali before hosting Zimbabwe at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.
