Austin Eguavoen, the technical director of the Nigeria Football Federation, has refuted reports that he resigned as the Super Eagles’ interim coach following the two 2025 AFCON qualifiers against the Benin Republic and Rwanda.
The federation had been unable to hire German coach Bruno Labbadia due to what they claim are strict German tax laws.
The statement announcing his appointment had said, in part, “In the event, Technical Director of Nigeria Football Federation, Coach Augustine Eguavoen, will now take charge of the Super Eagles for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Benin Republic (Uyo, September 7) and Rwanda (Kigali, September 10).”
In Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Saturday, the 59-year-old guided Nigeria to a convincing 3-0 victory over the Benin Republic. However, on Tuesday, Rwanda held the team to a scoreless draw in the second game of the series.
Prior to the double header of AFCON qualifiers against Libya next month, Eguavoen has refuted allegations that he had resigned as temporary coach following Tuesday’s goalless draw in
Kigali.
“It’s really awful when somebody just set off an incorrect situation and the situation we are in right now, we don’t need negative stories.
“After these two games, I only mentioned having a meeting with the federation’s hierarchy to discuss how to proceed with the prosecution of the upcoming games. But I was concerned when I saw that tale. Nothing that people are reading online is accurate. I still have a lot of control. As the NFF’s Technical Director, I’m tasked with leading the Super Eagles at this time”. Eguavoen stated this in a media conference upon arriving at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
Written by Jennifer Amarachi
