Following the Super Eagles World Cup double qualifier against Lesotho and Benin Republic, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Technical Director, Augustine Eguavoen, has debunked rumors linking him to the position of the national team’s head coach.
The ex-Super Eagles defender and coach described the rumors as false and painful, and offered his full backing to current coach Eric Chelle.
“I’m highly disappointed by these baseless rumours as I don’t know where they are coming from,” Eguavoen stated. “I have a very good working relationship with Coach Eric Chelle and no desire whatsoever to take charge of the team. My only wish is for him to succeed.”
He also stated that similar speculations in the past had strained his relationships with former Super Eagles coaches Gernot Rohr and José Peseiro and that the distractions could derail the team’s focus.
“It is not necessary. We all have to put our hands together to ensure the Super Eagles qualify for the World Cup and win the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco,” he emphasized.
Nigeria will face Lesotho’s Crocodiles at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa, on Friday and then travel back to Uyo to confront Benin Republic’s Cheetahs next Tuesday.
The Super Eagles are placed third in Group C on 11 points and trail leaders Benin Republic and second-placed South Africa by three points. The team must win the two matches and pray that South Africa slip up against either Zimbabwe or Rwanda to qualify automatically for next year’s World Cup in North America.
