Augustine Eguavoen, technical director of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has expressed deep distaste over reports in sections of the media that he was being tipped, alongside Ladan Bosso to replace Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle.
The reports also claimed Eguavoen and Bosso will lead the Super Eagles to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The former international stated that he is hurt by the baseless rumour.
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“I feel very hurt by these baseless rumours because I really have no idea where they are coming from,” Eguavoen told thenff.com.
“I have a very good working relationship with Coach Eric Chelle, and I have absolutely no interest in taking over the squad. I am praying for him to succeed.
“This was how the same speculators created schism and disaffection between myself and Gernot Rohr and José Peseiro, when these gentlemen coached the Super Eagles, at different periods. It is uncalled-for.
“We all need to work together to see the Super Eagles qualify for the World Cup and win the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations championship in Morocco.”
By Adeboye Amosu
7 Comments
“This was how the same speculators created schism and disaffection between myself and Gernot Rohr and José Peseiro, when these gentlemen coached the Super Eagles, at different periods. It is uncalled-for.”
But you ended up taking the job!
The nff used to have a disciplined, technically sound and reliable personality in your position.
RIP AMODU SHUAIBU.
“…….This was how the same speculators created schism and disaffection between myself and Gernot Rohr and José Peseiro, when these gentlemen coached the Super Eagles, at different periods……”
But you ended up succeeding them both eventually, albeit with an intermediate Finidi in the case of Peseiro. So, as the saying goes, there is probably no smoke without fire.
You have been the most useless technical director the NFF has ever had, a technical director who oversaw our worst AFCON participation in close to 40 years. A technical director who oversaw 2 World Cup failures back-to-back. A technical director who has overseen the nonqualification of our U23s for 2 Olympics back to back, the nonqualification of our U17s for the U17 World Cup back to back. A technical director who has overseen the production of 3 rag-tag and useless U20 teams back to back to back. A technical director under whom Nigerian clubs no longer feature in the group stages of the CAF Champions League.
Yet you still sit tight on that position, knowing fully well you are a failure, and like your other fellow lazy but entitled ex-international, just waiting for a coaching Lacuna in the SE for you to jump back on the SE bench.
I have observed your sleeky, sneaky mannerisms, especially when it comes to the SE job, and i must confess you move like a chess grandmaster. You know when to make yourself available for the SE and when to distance yourself. Anytime there’s some low-hanging fruit, you are always available, but when it’s time for high-hanging rough roaders that will expose your abilities, just like a World Cup qualification assignment, you suddenly develop cold feet and remember you are just a technical director.
If no one has ever told you, let me tell you today that you have outlived your relevance to Nigerian football. Bow out and go pursue other endeavors elsewhere. Go and take jobs in Mali, Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, or even Togo if you are that good. And if those jobs are beyond your reach, as I believe they really are, I think your home club, Insurance of Benin, needs you. They’ve not won jack in years……go and win them trophies please.
All I am saying is that you and your colleagues should let go of your grip of failure on Nigerian football. Please just let go, because like i said before……there is no smoke without fire.
This is definitely true.
You just hit the nail on the head. The voodoo headmaster is scheming for a takeover. He cost us Rohr and since then everything has scattered. He is back to planing again. Almighty 94 set, good in the field but terrible in the dugout should leave Nigeria football alone. They have done more damage to Nigerian football than any other set. So much entitlement with disaster written all over it. Amuneke relegated Heartland, Finidi Finished our world cup chances, Eguavon buried us so many times, Oliseh chickened out and left the team like the defeated German WW2 army. I can continue with others, but these guys need to stop and let Nigeria rebuild it’s football. We need men in NFF and not the chalatan crew that is in charge at this point. Anyone that destroys Football in Nigeria is an enemy and has indirectly destroyed Nigeria because Nigeria’s life oxygen is Football.
Mr ogun efon this debunking better be true bcos we sure do not need you anywhere near our SE again, u no dey shame niii? Habba.
The woeful failure has spoken.
A disgrace of a technical director.
Even if the current leadership remains, this guy has to vacate that post. He is the worst we’ve ever had. Lost a world cup ticket at home to Ghana, lost a second round Afcon game to a covid depleted Tunisia. Now as Technical Director, we are about to miss a second consecutive world cup. A catalog of calamities. Woeful, calamitous failure.
Oga, e don do now. You’ve tried. You’ve been in this position for ages, yet no progress. Instead of progress, our football is down in the dumps. Why not call it a day and go try someting else? This football administration thing no be by force. If e no dey body, e no dey. You can’t give what you don’t have. For how much longer do you want to be the reason for the sorrow and pain of Nigeria fans? You have brought great sorrow and anguish to fans in the past with your ineptitude, and you still want to continue? Oga, pity us now. E don do. Call it a day, and leave the place for someone who is qualified for the job.
I’m not a fan of Eguavoen, but I get why he’s clinging to the job; our system is broken and unemployment is sky-high. In Nigeria today, very few officials ever resign, no matter the failure.
I’ve always supported hiring foreign coaches because our local ones are often biased and corrupt. But the truth is, only a Nigerian who’s honest, disciplined, and free from interference can truly take us forward. The problem is the system. Until merit and accountability replace favoritism and politics, we’ll keep going in circles.