Nigerian football legend John Mikel Obi has heaped praise on Super Eagles interim coach Augustine Eguavoen, drawing a surprising comparison between him and the legendary Carlo Ancelotti.
Mikel’s comments came after Nigeria’s impressive performances in the AFCON 2025 qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda.
Speaking on his podcast, Mikel, who has played under top managers throughout his career, expressed his admiration for Eguavoen’s approach to management.
“He reminds me so much of Carlo Ancelotti, no jokes,” Mikel stated emphatically. He highlighted Eguavoen’s humble nature and strong communication skills, likening them to the qualities of Ancelotti, who is known for his exceptional man-management style.
Mikel, who recently met with Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti in Spain, shared more on the qualities that make Eguavoen stand out.
“His man management is top, he speaks to players really well, he’s so humble, communicates with players well, puts his arms around you, gets the players on his side and that is so important,” Mikel explained.
The former Chelsea midfielder also reminisced about his long history with Eguavoen, noting that Eguavoen coached him during his youth career with Nigeria’s U-17 team.
“I know the interim manager now, Augustine Eguavoen, who managed me when I was a kid in the U-17s. He was my coach and took us to the World Cup,” Mikel recalled, emphasizing the trust and respect he has for Eguavoen.
Despite being in an interim role, Eguavoen has quickly made a positive impact on the Super Eagles, something Mikel has been impressed by.
“You can see it coming in on such short notice and getting the team to play so well – you can’t change so much, you can’t teach them so much in such a short space of time,” Mikel observed. He credited Eguavoen’s success to his focus on player management and creating a relaxed environment for the team.
