The story of a coach for the Super Eagles of Nigeria following the expiration of Jose Peseiro's contract may not be over.
Just last week, the media was awash with news of former Super Eagles defender and coach Augustine Eguavoen taking over as the new gaffer.
Despite the news, nothing else has been heard concerning his appointment as the fans of the Nigeria national team wait for the federation to chart a way forward for the team.
Nigeria had a solid performance at AFCON 2023, with Peseiro leading them to the final. They won five games, drew one and lost in the final to hosts Ivory Coast.
The Peseiro performance seems not to have satisfied several people. The result is that everyone is playing the waiting game over the appointment of a new coach.
NFF in Super Eagles waiting game
The Super Eagles are technically without a manager following the resignation of Peseiro. With World Cup qualifiers in the offing, a new coach should already be on the ground piloting their affairs.
The latest report suggests that NFF president Ibrahim Musa Gusau claims that the federation will make a statement on the status of Peseiro and the position of the Super Eagles coach.
Since the news of Eguavoen's appointment broke, the NFF has refused to communicate their position to the public.
🇳🇬 Augustine Eguavoen is to takeover as the interim boss of the Super Eagles following the departure of Jose Peseiro.
✅️ 2005 — Caretaker
✅️ 2010 — Full-time
✅️ 2020 — Technical director
✅️ 2021 — Interim
✅️ 2024 — InterimHe is familiar with the role. 💡 pic.twitter.com/4c7zqW7mnt
— H/F (@hfworld_) March 2, 2024
As it stands, the NFF is still undecided on the way forward for the Nigerian side. They have neither denied nor approved the appointment of Eguavoen as the new coach.
As it is, the fans will have to wait for Gusau and his colleagues to snap out of the reverie and give the Nigeria national team a coach.
Super Eagles in limbo
The Nigeria senior men's team seems set for a period of limbo while the rest of the world forges ahead.
Without a coach and headway not in sight, the NFF must buckle up and put things in perspective to forge ahead.
The Super Eagles were due to play a friendly with Argentina this month, but the game was cancelled, and now the NFF are shopping for another opponent to engage the Super Eagles next month.
Regarding the absence of a coach, reports suggest that the NFF also had a pre-contract discussion with Emmanuel Amunike.
The Nigeria vs Argentina friendly game in the US has been canceled.
The NFF is discussing with two countries for a possible friendly game(s) in Europe next month. pic.twitter.com/tjsci86ZHd
— Adepoju Tobi Samuel 🇳🇬 (@OgaNlaMedia) March 5, 2024
Some allude that the NFF has not gone public about Amunike or Eguavoen because they are still undecided about Peseiro.
The Portuguese may have his antagonists, but some believe he has done enough to continue leading the Super Eagles.
Whatever it is, the NFF needs to move fast, as they have World Cup qualifiers with South Africa and Lesotho in June.
The AFCON 2025 qualifying draw is also around the corner, and the coach must prepare for them.
This article was most recently revised and updated 10 months ago
