NFF’s Safe Bet: Eguavoen Returns to Lead Super Eagles in AFCON Qualifiers

The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has made an unexpected decision to reappoint Augustine Eguavoen as the Head Coach of the Super Eagles for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches. This comes shortly after the NFF withdrew the appointment of German coach Bruno Labbadia, who was initially announced as the new head coach.

Earlier this week, the NFF named Labbadia, a former Bundesliga manager with experience at clubs such as Stuttgart, Wolfsburg, and Hertha Berlin, as the new head coach to lead the Super Eagles in their AFCON campaign. However, negotiations reportedly broke down over financial disagreements. According to sources, Labbadia demanded that the NFF cover his tax obligations both in Nigeria and in Germany, a condition the NFF found unsustainable, leading to the cancellation of his appointment.

This marks the third instance in recent times where a foreign coach’s appointment to lead the Super Eagles has been abruptly terminated by the NFF due to contractual disagreements or unmet demands. Previously, the NFF had faced similar issues with other foreign coaches, leading to a growing skepticism about its ability to secure and maintain top international coaching talents for the national team.

In light of this development, Augustine Eguavoen, who has served in various coaching capacities for the Super Eagles over the years, including as a caretaker coach, has been called upon once again to lead the team. Eguavoen, a former Super Eagles defender and captain, brings a wealth of experience to the role. His last stint as interim head coach saw the Super Eagles perform admirably at the 2021 AFCON tournament, though they were eventually knocked out in the round of 16.

The decision to reappoint Eguavoen reflects the NFF’s preference for stability and familiarity amid the ongoing challenges in securing foreign coaching talent. As the Super Eagles prepare for their crucial AFCON qualifiers, fans and analysts alike will be closely watching Eguavoen’s approach and strategies to guide Nigeria back to continental glory.