Indications have emerged that after two matches in charge as interim manager of the Super Eagles, the Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Coach Austin Eguaveon, may continue as the head of the national team.
Eguaveon, it would be recalled, led the Super Eagles to the first two matches of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda, where the former African champions defeated the Cheetahs of Benin Republic 3-0 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, before they were held goalless in Kigali by the Amavubi of Rwanda.
The two matches, our correspondent gathered, have been the talking points with the performance of the Super Eagles being evaluated at the Glass House. This is coming as the search for a substantive coach for the former African champions continued.
A source close to a member of the NFF Board from the South West told our correspondent that there are indications that Eguavoen could be considered for a longer stay as the coach of the Super Eagles on account of the performance of the team in the two matches played.
The source, a former journalist who declined to be named in the report, also said given the cost of engaging a foreigner, there is a thought of going ahead with the former Super Eagles captain, at least till the end of the year.
“Getting a new coach, especially a foreigner, comes with money and I don’t think they (NFF) are ready for that now,” said the source to our correspondent.
“Forget about what you read, the last plan to hire a coach failed because of money and that is still the issue now and there is a possible change of tune now.
“From now till the end of the year, we have about four matches and after that, it is in March that the next match will come and I can tell you that Eguaveon may still lead the team till the end of the year.
“We will play Libya over two legs next month; play Benin and Rwanda in November and after that, the next match will be March. So unless there is a change of plan, Eguaveon will lead the team to the end of the year,” said the source.
He said further; “There is no concrete agreement about this but there is a plan to ensure that Eguaveon remains as the coach to handle those matches; his performance in the last two matches is really convincing and I can tell you that unless there is sudden change of mind, he will remain for now as the coach of tgs team.
“The sports minister is in support of this because of the same issue of money to get a foreigner,” our correspondent was reliably told.
