Kelechi Nwakali has sent out his congratulations to Augustine Eguavoen on his appointment as Super Eagles manager.
The 23-year-old midfielder hopes to get a look-in for the Super Eagles trip to Cameroon in January.
Following the sack of Gernot Rohr as Super Eagles coach, Augustine Eguavoen has been appointed in an interim capacity to manage the affairs of the Super Eagles. The new manager is no stranger to the Super Eagles. Before his appointment, Eguavoen was the Technical Director of the team, so it should be a seamless transition.
Eguavoen will pilot the Super Eagles to Cameroon for the African Cup of Nations in January. The former Super Eagles defender has the task of ensuring Nigeria does well in Cameroon. The odds are stacked heavily against him, with his appointment coming barely four weeks to the commencement of the tournament.
Already congratulations are pouring in for Augustine Eguavoen on his appointment. With the plethora of Nigerian talent scattered all over the world, the job of the Super Eagles manager looks like a juicy prospect. Gernot Rohr, however, found out at the cost of his position that it is easier on paper than in reality, and that is the size of the task that stands before Eguavoen.
Notwithstanding, fringe players will fancy their chances of making it into the Super Eagles under Eguavoen, and one player to believe so is Kelechi Nwakali. The Huesca star was among the first players to congratulate his mentor Eguavoen as he hopes to get a call-up to the Super Eagles.
Nwakali congratulates Eguavoen on his new appointment
With Augustine Eguavoen taking over the reins of leadership of the Super Eagles on an interim basis, fringe players are chomping at the bit, hoping to get a look-in. Eguavoen might have to look to freshening the squad. The prospect of freshening the team has increased the chances of former Arsenal midfielder Kelechi Nwakali.
Nwakali was quick to congratulate his mentor Eguavoen on his new appointment. Perhaps, it is a way of reminding the former Super Eagles manager that he is available for the team. Eguavoen was acting as a mentor to Kelechi Nwakali, who plies his trade with SD Huesca in the Spanish Segunda division.
A close relationship with Nwakali
Nwakali has enjoyed a close relationship with Augustine Eguavoen. Nwakali has been a mentee under Eguavoen, and he hopes the relationship would count for something as the new manager draws up the roster for the AFCON.
Eguavoen had previously advised Nwakali to be patient as his time would come. The appointment of Eguavoen as the Super Eagles manager is not a guarantee of an automatic place in the Super Eagles.
Nwakali enjoys the advantage of having an admirer in Salisu Yusuf, Eguavoen’s assistant. It brightens the chance of Nwakali getting a call-up to the senior national side.
Nwakali won the U17 World Cup and was captain of the team. He also captained Nigeria’s U20 and U23 teams before earning his only Super Eagles cap in a non-competitive friendly with Atletico Madrid in May 2018.
He has been part of 17 of the 20 games SD Huesca has played in the Segunda Division this season.
This article was most recently revised and updated 3 years ago
