“How can I resign from a temporary position?” – Eguavoen clarifies Super Eagles job

By Monsurah Olatunji

Augustine Eguavoen, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Technical Director, has shared his side of the story regarding his brief stint as the interim manager of the Super Eagles, clarifying the circumstances behind his appointment and his subsequent departure.

The 59-year-old Nigerian football legend, who has previously managed the national team on multiple occasions, was thrust into the role again following the resignation of Finidi George.

Despite initially declining the offer, Eguavoen agreed to take charge of the Super Eagles on an interim basis as the team prepared for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

Speaking on a Bet9ja podcast, Eguavoen opened up about the series of events that led to him stepping in temporarily for the team.

“It’s almost time for the game in September, and we still didn’t have a coach for whatever reason,” he recalled. “I don’t know, maybe finance, I can’t say honestly speaking. And then the game was getting closer and closer, and I was approached by our Oga (leader).”

Initially, Eguavoen was hesitant and declined the offer, stating he would not take on the role. However, due to his position as NFF Technical Director, he was eventually persuaded to step in temporarily.

“I had an appointment in Europe, my second home in Belgium,” he explained. “I traveled, and then I was told we have a chance now. Bruno Labadia is coming on board, so I was relieved. But the negotiations didn’t go well, and I was called again because Bruno declined for whatever reason.”

With just 10 days to two weeks left before a crucial match, Eguavoen had no choice but to accept the interim role, with NFF President, Gusau, urging him to take charge.

“I came in, did the first game, and after that, I gathered the boys, thanked them for coming, and told them this is where we are now. Hopefully, going forward, we’ll get a new coach soon,” Eguavoen said, reflecting on his brief tenure.

Despite speculation regarding his resignation, the former Super Eagles defender made it clear: “I cannot resign from the position I was only occupying temporarily anyway, so it passed.”

Eguavoen’s involvement ended after overseeing two games, with the NFF later appointing Eric Chelle as the permanent coach of the Super Eagles.

Samuel Ahmadu

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.

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