Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation and interim coach of the Super Eagles, Augustine Eguavoen, has downplayed suggestions that he has the team’s magic wand after guiding them to a 3-0 win over the Benin Republic in a 2025 AFCON qualifier on Saturday in Uyo, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Super Eagles began the qualifying series in style at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium with goals from Ballon d’Or nominee Ademola Lookman (brace) and Victor Osimhen, powering them to a resurgent win under Eguavoen.
It’s the second time in two years that Eguavoen has been saddled with the task of handling the team in the absence of a substantive coach.
Following the untimely resignation of former coach Finidi George and the last-minute rejection of the job by German coach Bruno Labbadia, the 59-year-old was handed the task of reviving the team’s fortunes in the AFCON qualifiers after their wobbling 2026 World Cup qualifiers matches in June.
Finidi’s exit was occasioned by the team’s poor performances against South Africa and the Benin Republic in June, but Eguavoen believes the team’s quality is always there after the impressive outing on Saturday.
“The players are always there. You know when much is expected from Nigerians; that’s when we see performance,” Eguavoen said after the game.
“We’ve been getting a lot of backlash, and the boys didn’t know it, and we know we have the calibre of players to beat any team.
“So anybody can come in and do the same job; it’s not a problem. It’s just the mindset. We have the potential. It’s how you checkout your opponents, then go out and do the job.”
Coincidentally, Eguavoen’s clean slate began with the same opponent that defeated the Super Eagles on their last assignment, the Benin Republic, led by former Nigeria coach Genort Rohr.
A nervy first half almost ended goalless, but Lookman gave relief to the players and the technical crew with a sublime goal and ultimately a lead into the break.
Still at 1-0, Eguavoen rang the changes, which proved perfect, as Osimhen came off the bench to double the lead, while Lookman completed his brace seven minutes left of regulation time.
The victory marked Nigeria’s first win in five competitive games, with their last coming as far back as February 2, when they beat Angola in the quarterfinals of the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast.
It was also a sweet revenge for the 2-1 loss against the Cheetahs during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in June.
The former Nigeria defender also spoke about the set-up of the team after sticking with Jose Peseiro’s 3-4-3, which the Portuguese deployed during the 2023 AFCON.
“We have quality players, and we can decide to play any system. It’s something we discussed, and I also slept over it. And I know that with the calibre of players that we have, we can decide to play any formation and be successful.”
A trip to Rwanda for their second game of the series is Nigeria and Eguavoen’s next task, but it remains to be seen if the ex-international and his assembled assistants will be left in charge of the team for the next international windows in October and November.
Some Nigerians have also asked the NFF to give him the Eagles job permanently.
A fan, Yemisi Kola, said, “The last time I saw the Super Eagles play good football was in AFCON 2021 under Eguavoen, where we defeated everyone in the group stages but were unfortunate to be defeated by Tunisia in the round of 16.
“If they left Eguavoen till now, we’d be a better team.”
“I don’t care about his antecedents with the Super Eagles, and I don’t care about what you think about him.
“It is time to give Coach Austin Eguavoen the Super Eagles job again,” Ibukun also said.
Another fan, Edo Solomon, also said, “Austin Eguavoen is not just a leader, but a good technical director. He may not be the best, but he has proven time and time again that if you give him the boys, he can take them as far as they are willing.”
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