Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Augustine Eguavoen, has called for the appointment of a homegrown coach to lead the Super Eagles amid the federation’s ongoing search for a permanent head coach.
Eguavoen emphasized that a local tactician would better understand the unique challenges of Nigerian football and connect with the passionate fanbase, as the team prepares for the continuation of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in March.
The Super Eagles have been without a substantive manager since Finidi George resigned following a turbulent stint marked by a 2–1 loss to Benin and a 1–1 draw against South Africa. Finidi cited the NFF’s pursuit of a foreign technical adviser as a key reason for his departure.
Eguavoen, who temporarily took charge, led Nigeria to secure qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with a game to spare. However, with the critical World Cup qualifiers approaching, he has urged swift action to appoint a new coach.
“All hands must be on deck. We want to try and qualify for the World Cup,” Eguavoen told Kennis FM, as quoted by Legit. “March is just around the corner. If we have to do something about the team, we need to do it quickly. That person should come in as soon as possible, settle down, so we can discuss, tweak things, exchange ideas, and plan the way forward.”
Despite reports indicating that the NFF has been in talks with foreign coaches, Eguavoen remains firm on his stance for a local appointment.
“The earlier, the better. We should stay at home for the choice of head coach,” he reiterated. “The technical crew has to be expanded, but the head coach should be homegrown because we understand the situation and feel the pulse of the people.”
The Super Eagles currently sit fifth in their World Cup qualifying group with three points from four matches. They face a crucial fixture against group leaders Rwanda in Kigali before hosting Zimbabwe at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.
