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.