Austin Eguavoen sets conditions to become Super Eagles permanent Coach

The current caretaker coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Augustin Eguavoen has shared the conditions under which he would accept the role on a permanent basis.

Since the departure of Jose Peseiro, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has been looking for a long-term coach, and Eguavoen, who also serves as the NFF’s technical director, stepped in temporarily.

Eguavoen has led the team in recent matches, including the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda, where the Super Eagles performed well. Despite this, the 58-year-old coach remains cautious about taking on the role full-time.

In a recent interview with Brila FM, Eguavoen explained that for him to commit, he needs a stable environment and a long-term contract.

“It will be a tough one,” Eguavoen admitted.

“You have to give me a long-term contract with patience and clauses in that contract because winning is not guaranteed every week or day.”

“You will give me time to tweak the team till I find what I want.”

SPORTSRATIONS’ Nsikakabasi Akpan comments:

“Nigerian football fans are known for wanting instant results. This pressure makes it difficult for any coach to stay long in the job if things don’t go well. Eguavoen asking for patience and a long-term contract makes sense, but in reality, Nigerian fans are not going to listen to any excuses, and the demand for immediate success might make it hard for him or any coach to build something solid. Coaches need time, but unfortunately, the fans and sometimes the NFF may not be willing to wait.”