A major milestone has been recorded for Nigerian football following the graduation of Augustine Eguavoen from the prestigious FIFA Technical Leadership Diploma programme in Zürich.
The Nigeria Football Federation Technical Director completed the elite course after an intensive 18-month learning process that began in Germany in 2024.
The programme is regarded as the highest global qualification for football technical directors, focusing on building sustainable football structures, strengthening coach education systems, and establishing elite player development pathways.
Eguavoen, popularly known as “Cerezo,” was among just 25 technical directors selected worldwide to participate in the rigorous programme, which is specifically designed for officials responsible for shaping national football philosophies and long-term high-performance strategies within federations.
His successful completion of the Level 6 diploma is considered a significant boost for Nigerian football, as the former Nigeria national football team head coach is expected to bring enhanced technical leadership expertise and strategic planning insight to the development of the game in the country.
The qualification further strengthens the NFF’s technical department as it works to improve coaching structures, youth development, and the overall football ecosystem in Nigeria.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey 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.
