AFCON 2021: Augustine Eguavoen steps down as Super Eagles Interim coach
Nigeria’s senior national team interim coach, Augustine Eguavoen, resigned on Sunday following the Super Eagles disastrous exit at the Round of 16 at the African Cup of Nations.
Eguavoen stepped down as the interim coach of the Super Eagles on Sunday night immediately after they were eliminated by the Tunisia at the tournament in Cameroon
Eguavoen had led the three-time champions to three straight wins against Egypt, Sudan and Guinea-Bissau sparking hopes that the Super Eagles were coasting to their fourth title.
However, they were shockingly booted out of the competition by a Tunisia side that amassed only three points to get to the Round of 16 but still managed to eliminate the pre tournament’s favorite which prompted Eguavoen to fall on his sword.
“What happens next is that I’m the interim coach and Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF),” Eguavoen said in a post match press conference.
“I will go back to my position and allow the NFF (to) make a decision on the way forward.”
Eguavoen was appointed as the interim coach of the Super Eagles after Gernot Rohr was sacked last month and the team’s group stage performance prompted calls for him to be made the permanent coach.
The NFF had already named Jose Peseiro as the new permanent coach of the Super Eagles before the AFCON started in Cameroon.
Meanwhile, Nigeria will face Ghana in March in two World Cup playoff matches to decide one of the five African slots at the tournament to be played in Qatar.