Eguavoen pledges support to incoming Super Eagles boss Peseiro

Eguavoen pledges support to incoming Super Eagles boss Peseiro

Jose Peseiro is to resume work with the Super Eagles following their ouster from the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

The Portuguese coach became the new coach following the firing of Gernot Rohr last year.

The Africa Cup of Nations is into the quarter-final stage, but the Super Eagles have exited the competition. The performance of the Nigerian team gave supporters an idea of the capability of the Super Eagles.

The disappointment of failing to make it to the quarter-final still rankles, but life continues. Besides, the Super Eagles have the small matter of the World Cup qualifier coming up in March.

Augustine Eguavoen is to vacate his seat for a new coach, and he is already looking forward to working with him when he comes.

Eguavoen pledges support for the new coach

Augustine Eguavoen led the Super Eagles of Nigeria to the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon as an interim coach. The idea was that he would relinquish the position to the new coach after the tournament. The disappointment of the second-round loss to Tunisia is behind, with attention now on the game against Ghana.

Ghana may have failed to win any game at the Nations Cup, but they are no pushovers, and the age-long rivalry between the West African neighbours will come to the fore again. Nigeria and Ghana play each other in the final round of the World Cup qualifiers. They seek one of the five African slots at the World Cup in Qatar.

Eguavoen has returned as the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) technical director. He declared that he and his department would support the new coach to succeed. He promised Nigerians after the ouster of the Super Eagles that the focus was now on the World Cup in Qatar and all hands were on deck to ensure Nigeria qualifies.

Eguavoen stated that the Technical Department and the new coach would map out strategies. He said the new coach would have a platform as the team is already 80% – to 90% ready. Eguavoen also said the country comes first. So the new coach would receive their support.

New coach, new frontiers

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced shortly before the commencement of the Nations Cup in Cameroon the firing of the Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr and replaced him with Augustine Eguavoen.

According to the Federation, Peseiro was in Cameroon as an observer. The Portuguese will now resume work to prepare the Super Eagles for their World Cup qualifier against the Black Stars of Ghana.

Peseiro, who played as a forward and managed teams like FC Porto, Sporting CP and SC Braga, is expected to bring his wealth of experience to bear on the Super Eagles. The last appointment of the Portuguese was the Venezuela national team. The economic crisis in Venezuela led to his resignation after not being paid for over a year.

On a side note, Kenneth Omeruo has leapt to the defence of Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye. Following the Super Eagles' ouster in the competition to Tunisia, Okoye received blame for the loss.

Omeruo said Okoye was not at fault for the loss. He claims that Okoye is disconsolate since Nigeria crashed out of the tournament, and he has done his best to console the player.

Omeruo said the failure in Cameroon would ginger the team to succeed.

This article was most recently revised and updated 3 years ago

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