By Monsurah Olatunji
Nigeria international Victor Osimhen has expressed his deep gratitude to Augustine Eguavoen for his remarkable leadership and man-management skills during his time as interim coach of the Super Eagles.
Eguavoen, a former Super Eagles captain who stepped in as coach during a challenging period for the national team, was praised by Osimhen for his ability to blend tactical insight with a fatherly approach to his players.
In a heartfelt moment on Mikel Obi’s latest podcast, Osimhen took the opportunity to acknowledge Eguavoen’s impact on both his career and the entire squad.
“I have to say a very big thank you to Austin Eguavoen for a job well done,” Osimhen said on ObiOne podcast.
“No player has ever gone against his authority or instructions. He really deserves his flowers. He’s an amazing coach.”
Osimhen also highlighted Eguavoen’s approachability and respect for the players, noting how he treated everyone equally and with dignity.
“Not just because as a coach, but also as a father, for the way he’s taken every player and given us the respect. I am saying this, and every player can testify that they give him the same equal respect.”
The Napoli striker’s praise for Eguavoen reflects the deep bond and mutual respect between the coach and the players, underlining the positive impact Eguavoen had during his tenure.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
