Super Eagles job: Time for Augustine Eguavoen to play hard to get

One rule about a job—’know when to come into it and leave when the ovation is loudest’, and Nigerian football manager Augustine Eguavoen has perfectly played this rule to his advantage with the Super Eagles job he handled on an interim basis.

Late last night, following the 0-0 unfortunate draw for the Super Eagles, the caretaker coach, amicably resigned from his position after managing the country side in 2 of their AFCON qualifying fixtures. Augustine Eguavoen returned to the job two years after failing to lead the Nigerian national team to the 2022 World Cup tournament following the 1-1 draw versus Ghana.

The Nigerian manager in his return was able to get the Super Eagles to their dominant playing pattern, stealing a 3-0 win versus Benin Republic and narrowly missing out on a win against Rwanda.

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Giving an account for his decision to quit the role, Augustine Eguavoen in quote told reporters;

“I have been given a mandate to handle two games. I will want to say I am very pleased with the boys, and again, thanks to the NFF leadership, and all the boys supported me in terms of discipline and working hard,”

“It ends today, which is the two-game mandate. I can’t talk about Libya because I haven’t been told, but I can talk about it a little bit in case we have another coach we can talk about it I want to be closer to the team as it should be, and I can give inside story and inside information that we need to be able to overcome Libya.”

Whether this is a political statement or a fact, Eguavoen’s comments brings to book one truth; the Nigerian Football Federation needs the football manager now more than ever if they cannot afford a national team coach to lead the Super Eagles moving forward. Hence, this plays the ball into the court of Augustine Eguavoen and what the future may likely hold for the manager.

Eguavoen has not only proven himself on the international stage, but his statistics as Super Eagles head coach, speaks for itself.

There is no denying that Augustine Eguavoen has not won titles or accolades in his time heading the team, but his playing pattern that drives fan excitement to seeing the Super Eagles playing more in a front foot attack and controlling possession, is a thing of pride for every fan. And right now, this is what sets Eguavoen apart from the others.

The NFF needs the Nigerian manager more than he needs them, and it is high time, the football federation acts right by the coach.