Ahead of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, former Nigerian striker, Jonathan Akpoborie has revealed that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) should expect nothing from the Super Eagles interim coach, Augustine Eguavoen.
Recall that on Sunday, the NFF terminated the contract of Super Eagles Coach, Gernot Rohr and appointed ex-international, Eguavoen, currently it’s Technical Director, as the Technical Adviser on an interim basis.
Eguavoen’s appointment is with immediate effect, and ends the NFF’s relationship with Franco-German Gernot Rohr, who has been in charge of the three-time African champions for the past 64 months and is Nigeria’s longest-serving manager.
Reacting to Eguavoen’s appointment, the former Wolfsburg striker, said that it would take the Super Eagles mother-luck to win the AFCON title.
“I was not really surprised that Gernot Rohr was sacked considering the Super Eagles poor performance at the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. However, appointing Eguavoen as his replacement on an interim basis, simply means that the NFF must not expect too much from him.
It will take great miracle for the Super Eagles to win the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations regardless of the star studded players at his disposal. They should not expect magic from him.”
30 Comments
These so called ex-internationals talk too much! Are they so idle? Can’t the keep busy by volunteering their services for schools and town clubs if they can’t develop themselves? I tire ooo!
I think it is a strategy the NFF is imploring. In days time NFF will announce Bonfrere Jo as the permanent coach. Anything short of this is a disaster to nigerian senior Male team. Else, they should settle for Siasia or Amuneke for.
Insider.
What did I hear you say? Bonfere joe or what! Common don’t be retrogressive bro..
The Super Eagles is now temporarily managed by a team of coaches who are hungry to make an instant impact and success of upcoming assignments.
Some of them have silently prayed for this opportunity so it is for them not to screw it up.
The turbulent tenure of Gernot Rohr has finally come to an end and it is pure waste of time now to continually dwell on the past. The 67 year old German brought upliftment and much needed stability to the Super Eagles at a time of its lowest ebb between 2016 and 2019.
Sadly, after the renewal of his contract in 2020, the brand of football played by the Super Eagles became a most potent medicine for those people struggling with sleep deprivation: it was depressing, gimcrack, nugatory and ultimately downbeat. Despite hitting all his targets on paper, he missed the target of hearts in minds with displays that always left Super Eagles fans on tenterhooks and some needing anti-depressants.
Regardless, I will always remember Rohr’s first stint fondly with memorable matches against Argentina, Cameroon, Zambia, Algeria and England (second half). The Super Eagles were simply amazing to watch at that time and I always felt invested in their displays. Shame he couldn’t carry that aura into his second contract.
Now, his Jekyll and Hyde chapter in Nigeria’s football has come to an end after weeks of speculations and subplots.
It is now time for Eguavoen and Co to put the “Super” back in our most loved and dearly cherished Super Eagles of Nigeria.
Akpoborie na god go punishe you
Let’s say the truth for once. The time frame for Coach Eguavoen and co to perform is very slim but that’s is not saying they aren’t going to achieve set objectives. Equavoen will use Afcon as a grooming ground for future successes. The coaching team needs out support.
Just like Johnson said, I want to believe Akpoborie is right. You gave somebody only two weeks to prepare a team to an important tourney like the Afcon and expecting gold in return, c’mon guys, who does that? It’s better we tell ourselves the gospel truth before it’s too late. Well, I do know Eguavoen going by his antecedent could make a magic out of this episodic era, I pray. He should begin by opening the camp for the players immediately.
My suggestive lineup is:
Okoye or Uzoho
Ekong Balogun
Collins/Awanziem Aina/Ebuehi.
Ndidi Aribo
V.Moses
Ighalo. Osimhen/Desser
———————-
THE PHAROAHS OF EGYPT
The Afcon we were going for a possible win is now a grooming ground as the super eagle is going for inter house sports? Something you say when Rohr was in charge. That’s wickedness and very shameful.
*as if the super eagle…..*
I am truly happy Mr. Rhor is gone!
He was sacked at the wrong time, however, I am glad he is gone!!
Over to you Eguavoen and co
The good news came in today that Eguavoen the no nonsense coach has taken over from Rohr. This is very good for Nigerians the more reason I’m elated. However, Eguavoen has to start in earnest, plan, execute then achieve by bringing the Afcon gold cup to Nigeria early next year. Whoever has any advice should kindly put it forward for us to remain meaningful. I want him, Eguavoen to organise friendlies for the boys immediately they are in the camp to enable us see who and who is fit for our national side. Good luck Eguavoen.
With this set of team, we have gotten it right. Good luck SE.
Eguavoen once Paraded a host of stars led by Kanu and Julius to 2006 cup of nations and the best he could achieve was bronze. I don’t think he will do better this time and that is because he has been mixed with Aigbodun and Alloy Agu. These two below average coached mixed with an Average coach!!!
@Chima, 2 weeks??? The time frame is too short. Let’s just hope for the best otherwise I see this Afcon as a training ground for Eguavoen to better prepare us for the World cup proper. They have our support.
My lineup is:
Okoye or Uzoho
Ekong Balogun
Collins/Awanziem Aina/Ebuehi.
Ndidi Aribo
V.Moses
Ighalo. Osimhen/Desser
———————-
THE PHAROAHS OF EGYPT
Eguavoen world cup??? Hmmm Mba!!! He has been in the team as technical director under Rohr so he’s not new to the environment. Belmandi won on his first attempt so there’s no excuses let the Christmas Begin.
Shot your mouth, if you don’t have something to say.all this EX. talks too much .
2 weeks??? The time frame is too short. Let’s just hope for the best otherwise I see this Afcon as a training ground for Eguavoen to better prepare us for the World cup proper. They have our support.
My lineup is:
Okoye or Uzoho
Ekong Balogun
Collins/Awanziem Aina/Ebuehi.
Ndidi Aribo
V.Moses
Ighalo. Osimhen/Desser
———————-
THE PHAROAHS OF EGYPT
You may want to replace uzoho with adeleye . I for one believe he is the best goal tender we have today, no cap! Closely followed by Okoye. EKONG needs sit out for a while and bro why Ighalo ? With all the myriads of in form strikers we have now.
All of a sudden we are no longer sacking Rohr to achieve something at Afcon, but to use Afcon as training ground instead. Didnt NFF knw that’s 2weeks??
What you put outa here is a killer’s squad. @Biodun Awori, I like your line up but I was thinking we should find places for Ejuke and Chukwueze.
Killer squad with Ighalo? Kwontinue! On fire Dennis is not in it and you call this a killer squad?
SE bench:
———
Dennis
Chukwueze
Ebuehi
Iwobi
Adeleye
Ejuke
Akpeyi
Now you have a super sub bench.
@ Golden child ; please ask again ooo , Killer squad with retired flopped Igahalo ( some are joker ) , we may have to recall Yakubu Ayegbeni then ; perhaps @ BIODUN Awori want Eguafon who is more or less Local version of Rohr to start on wrong foot so that he would also be shamelessly begging Nigerians to give the retired flopped Igahalo as Rohr was crying in his last game after being removed with Zero contributions;
At a time we have many in forms players that are painting Europe read with goals Dessers, Dennis , Goaledor Taiwo Awoniyi , Dan D Bull Amokachi reincarnated 19 years old Akin Amoo & others
As a matter of fact , the announcement of call up players would prove if Eguafon we know is a changed Man that cannot be manipulated by the sharks in NFF; If Rohr could not stand manipulation of Amaju Pinnick , would his local version do otherwise?
Thank God , Eguafon was in Westerhof super team ear when a an independent sensible coach Westerhof that knew his onions unleashed Amokachi the then 18 years old in the Afcon without playing in qualifying games .
Time will tell ; all the same I wish the team super success
Coach Eguavoen is a discipline man. This is why I gave him Mr. No nonsense.
I am pretty sure that within the two weeks, this Eguavoen will get the team ready for Afcon. He has bn part of the system and Super Eagles is not new to Mr. Eguavoen.
I am so happy that Afcon and world cup will be play in the same year. Meaning, if Eguavoen improves the team he can take Super Eagles to the world cup.
Who does not want to go to the world cup. Absolutely nobody.
Mr. Eguavoen still have a lot to prove to Nigerians.
It is between Amunike, Egbo and co plus Eguavoen. This is good to have consortium of Nigerian coaches leading the Super Eagles to the world cup if we qualify.
* Amunike
* Egbo
* Finidi
* Eguavoen
* Marnu Gerba
These five coaches are good enough to build a world class team for Nigeria.
Goalkeeping department
* Peter Rufai
* Ike Shorunmu
* Enyeama
* Ikeme
Kai, who says Nigeria can not win the Afcon in Cameroon and world cup in Qatar with these coaches if they work collectively as a unit?
But NFF will not make it work for our own because of the money they will get if they hire a foreign. They will prefer to have money into their pockets rather than serving Nigeria.
Anyway, Nigeria will watch good football from Super Eagles under Mr. No nonsense. Watch out Nigerians. God bless Nigeria!!!
Omo9ja am following you this are your words okay. But I will remember you I will remember you I have saved your comment. I will show it to you in 4 months time enjoy yourself now
With Victor Moses in and Aina already, Nigerians should expect goals harvest in Cameroon. Good luck boys.
@Faith, it was when I listen to the commentary, I found out you are right. With versatile mid field, the goals would come. See the video.
https://youtu.be/WpNVcjU2MEw?t=42
Oh thanks ARRY, oh so nice. Can’t stop watching our boys in the vid, u know I’m obsessed with anything Nigeria? Thanks.
Nigerians will make the highest number in hell. They wanted Rohr who was preparing to go and win the AFCON to be sacked for their indigenous coaches and the NFF obeyed them now they are dancing another snake dance. I see regrets in all your comments no matter how you try to hide it, the regretting undertone still shows in your comments.
Is it not madness for somebody to say that the super eagle Rohr transform from super chicken to once again global brand before things start slipping off is going to AFCON just to use it for grooming? Am consumed with laughter…. How can a such a team of coaches including okocha and kanu (though not actively involved) go to Cameroon just to count numbers? A team that took bronze in the last outing and qualify for this edition with games to spare? By your comments we are down before even kicking the ball!!! Even Sudan is not using AFCON as grooming ground for your information. The fear was that Mr Rohr will not win AFCON so now fear is gone and we are supposed to win AFCON and not to go be a distraction to other serious minded Federations who doesn’t think from Anus like NFF and their supporters.
Rohr was alone and did what he could, now we have a consurtium of not just two coach but many coaches. So the AFCON is for Nigeria, fancy football, tiki taka, fast and furious football will be displayed. Many individual talents that can play without a coach we have them. After all Tuchel did it in a short time.
There is nothing too shot about Time of preparations, when it comes to Professionals. We can debatę that with under age football. In Professional football, your selection and formation is The basics steps to Victoria, all others can be added, determination and patriotism makes you indormitable when The table is equal between you and your opponent. We Saw how Chelsea won The champions league last season after sacking lampard and replaced him with tuchel, amunike and siasia failed together with eagles using time as an excuse, when it was obviouse that efe ambroos failure to look after salah spoilt the show in kaduna, yet time was to be blamed, v moses wasted a clear chance created by an explosive iwobi through pass, time still took blame. Nigerians can blame Time, weather, pitches, fans, witches, juju, and luck. some will even ask God why me, when ever they fail to live up to expectations. I personaly think that football is a gamę of perfection and determination by players and other faktors are just added to make it sweet and yurmy. Liverpool without A coach will beat enyimba with guadiola pochetino klopp all together.
Eguavon took charge of eagles after we drew angolą in kano and we where hoping to qualify for wcup if angola drop a Point, The young man selected Good players and beat zimbabwe 5 1 and Algieria 5 2 in our last gamęs, unfurtunately wasnt enough to stop angola who failed to drop a Point for their own Good. Good for them, bad for us. Eguavon went further to afcon in a Group of Ghana, Senegal, and zimbabwe,( rohr, had madagascar Burundi and guinea all underdogs after two years preparations ) eguavon won his group with 9 points, The highest eagles ever recorded in afcon group stage, while rohr had 6 points, almost recording a draw with borundi and guinea, lost to madagascar, with all is longtime preparations.
Eguavon won against tunisia The best team of that turnament and defending champions, there after he lost to The ivorians which paraded football elephants like Drogba, zakora, yaya, haruna didane, kone, koło etc, it was a great outing by eguavon, and it shows that Eguavon and time doesnt wait for each other. My expectations from him is to select a Good formation of Good players which rohr refused to give us. There is no formation that can be deadlier than this.
Akpeyi
Aina ekong balogun saidu
Ndidi
Iwobi v moses
Chuks osimhen ejuke