Fans want Eguavoen to continue as Eagles coach

Nigerian football fans have taken to social media, urging the Nigeria Football Federation to retain Augustine Eguavoen as the head coach of the Super Eagles following the team’s recent impressive performances in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The team secured a convincing 3-0 victory against Benin Republic in Uyo on Saturday before being held goalless by Rwanda in Kigali on Tuesday.

These results have left Nigeria top of Group D with four points from two games, sparking renewed confidence in the team and their interim handler.

Eguavoen’s appointment as interim coach came after the Nigeria Football Federation failed to secure the services of German coach Bruno Labbadia due to stringent German tax laws.

This latest stint marks another chapter in Eguavoen’s extensive and complex relationship with the national team, having first taken charge as caretaker coach in 2005.

The 59-year-old served as interim coach during the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, where Nigeria showed promises in the group stages before a disappointing performance against Tunisia in the round of 16, where they exited the competition.

The team’s mixed fortunes under his tutelage have polarised fans and pundits alike.

In the recent qualifiers, Eguavoen demonstrated tactical flexibility. Against Benin, he fielded a strong attacking lineup that yielded dividends. In the subsequent match against Rwanda, he made an audacious change, starting Fisayo Dele-Bashiru in place of Alex Iwobi while surprisingly starting Victor Osimhen from the bench.

Despite the Rwanda game ending in a goalless draw, the team showcased their attacking intent. Ademola Lookman had a goal disallowed in the first half, and the introduction of Osimhen and Moses Simon in the second half nearly broke the deadlock.

The Eagles created numerous chances but were repeatedly denied by Fiacre Ntwari, Rwanda goalkeeper whose exceptional performance earned him the Man of the Match award.

This resilience and tactical adaptability have not gone unnoticed by fans, many of whom see Eguavoen as a coach who understands the nuances of African football and can bring out the best in the current crop of players.

The calls for his permanent stay in the team’s dugout come at a time when the NFF is at a crossroads, weighing the merits of local expertise against the allure of foreign coaching pedigree.

Adding to the intrigue, initial reports suggested that Eguavoen had stepped down after the Rwanda match, citing the completion of his two-game mandate.

However, upon arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, the coach clarified his position, stating he was “still very much in charge” and ready to continue his role as both Technical Director of the NFF and interim coach of the Super Eagles.

This clarification has further intensified the debate surrounding his future, with fans and football stakeholders alike weighing the potential benefits of continuity versus the pursuit of a high-profile foreign coach.

As Nigeria prepare for the crucial double-header against Libya in October, the question of who will lead the team long-term looms large.

Against this backdrop of this uncertainty and promise, Nigerian football fans have taken to social media to voice their opinions.

Former Super Eagles media officer Oluwatoyin Ibitoye voiced his support for Eguavoen on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Dear @thenff, please keep your search for a foreign coach for the @NGSuperEagles in the cooler for a bit longer. Let’s buy some time. Let’s see what @coacheguavoen and the team will cook for us in October and maybe in November #SoarSuperEagles.”

This sentiment was echoed by many fans, with Buchi Laba tweeting, “There’s no need going to bring a new manager for the Super Eagles, whether foreign or local. If this is a trial for Austin Eguavoen and his coaches, they all passed and should continue in the meantime.”

Oke Mmadu criticised the NFF’s approach, saying, “NFF should for once give Austin Eguavoen a contract and stop using him as interim coach since 2005. It’s appalling.”

Femi Arya tweeted, “I never doubted him. If not for what happened against Tunisia in that previous AFCON, Eguavoen supposes to still remain our coach. E sabi use those players.”

However, not all fans are convinced. Farooq, @Plug ox, expressed concerns about settling for mediocrity, asking, “How many more times does he have to fail before you agree he’s not good enough? How many more world cups do we have to successively miss??”

As Nigeria prepare for their next qualifiers against Libya in October, the debate over Eguavoen’s future is likely to intensify. The NFF faces a crucial decision: stick with the experienced Eguavoen or continue their search for a foreign coach.

For now, Eguavoen remains at the helm, with fan support growing. As Mrs. White aptly put it on X, “I really don’t know why it is always an interim thing.”

The coming weeks will reveal whether the NFF heeds the calls of fans and commits to Eguavoen long-term, or if they will pursue alternative options for the Super Eagles’ coaching position.