Super Eagles interim coach, Augustine Cerezo Eguavoen, has dismissed rumors that he resigned from his position following Nigeria’s goalless draw with Rwanda in Tuesday’s AFCON 2025 qualifier.
This is not the first time Eguavoen, who is also the NFF’s technical director, will step into the role, having previously led the Super Eagles during the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, where Nigeria reached the round of 16.
This time around, he took over as interim coach earlier this month due to the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) delay in appointing a permanent coach.
In his return to the role, Eguavoen had a strong start, guiding Nigeria to a 3-0 victory over Benin Republic in their first 2025 AFCON qualifier. However, the team was held to a 0-0 draw by Rwanda in their second game in Kigali.
Following the Rwanda game, reports surfaced suggesting that Eguavoen had stepped down. The 59-year-old coach has firmly denied these claims, stating that no decision has been made yet regarding his future.
“It’s quite unfortunate that people just trigger something that is not correct. And the situation we are in now, we don’t need negative stories,” Eguavoen said. “But when I saw that story (of his resignation), I was worried. Whatever people are reading out there is not correct.”
“I’m still very much in charge. I’m the Technical Director of the NFF, saddled with the responsibility of taking the Super Eagles at this moment.”
With the NFF slow in appointing a new coach since Finidi George’s departure in June, Eguavoen’s recent results suggest he may continue to lead the Super Eagles through the next round of qualifiers in October.
